301. He Knows What It's Like

Hebrews 4:15

I don’t really gamble, but I would bet anything that whenever you sin, (especially if you think it’s a really big sin) you believe that not only is God disappointed in you, but He’s also looking at you and thinking, “What’s wrong with you? Are you some kind of freak? Why on earth are you so messed up that you would want something like that?” Most of us think that God not only disapproves of our behavior, but just doesn’t understand us at all. We think God shakes His head at us in disgust, wondering how in the world we are tempted by the things that drag us down and take us out. The truth is so much better than what we naturally think on our own. In fact, one reason the truth is so much better is that it’s something we never would have thought up on our own. If human beings were inventing a religion and simply making up Jesus as a fictional character, we never would have put this part in. Hebrews chapter 4 tells us that Jesus is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but has been tempted in every way, just like us, only without sin. Do you realize what that means? It means that Jesus knows what it’s like to want to do the wrong thing. He understands why you desire the things that cause you to fall. He’s not looking down on you for wanting what you want. He gets it. Jesus stood toe-to-toe with those same temptations and overcame them. He never once sinned, but He was tempted by them. He doesn’t look at you like some kind of freak. Our God knows what it’s like down here.