January 18, 2012 — The First Commandment

I don’t know what is going on.  Suddenly, yesterday afternoon my computer locked up.  So I rebooted it and it took 40 minutes to reboot.  I did it again and again it took 40 minutes to reboot.  I ran some virus protection software and it found nothing.  My computer goes through a defrag every Wednesday so that’s not the problem.  I couldn’t get anything done.  Suddenly, after moving back home, the computer seems to be working okay.  But don’t think I’m going to try restarting it any time soon.

Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism on the First Commandment,

Because we can’t literally see, hear, feel, taste or touch God, we don’t fully consider the consequences of our sin.  To be sure there are times when we feel guilty.  But it is usually because we feel bad for hurting someone else.  When was the last time you felt disappointed in yourself for just sinning against God?  Do you ever worry about going to Hell?  A parent stopped me the other day, crying, she was standing with her son who also had tears in his eyes, he told me, “I’m worried that I’m going to go to Hell.”  He was serious.  I reassured him that he was baptized and that came with a promise of eternal life.  I told him that his name was written in the Book of Life and that nothing could erase it.  That seemed to ease his fear.  But if it weren’t for Jesus, all of us should have tears of fear like that.  We sin and we sin greatly.  Every once and a while, it’s good to be afraid and to consider the consequence of our sin.

What is the consequence of throwing your computer through a window?  I know that one, suffering the wrath of your wife for having to buy a new one.  But this one is only two years old.  I guess every once and a while, the Lord reminds you that technology isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  We need to rely on Him and not technology.  Think He will write my sermon for Sunday?  Have a blessed day, stay warm!