The lingering after-effects of sin...

During the time of the Conquest of Canaan, the two and one-half tribes which settled east of the Jordan built an altar for a memorial so that they would have a portion in Israel.  The nine and one-half tribes falsely accused them of making this altar for idol worship.
They made the statement, "Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, FROM WHICH WE ARE NOT CLEANSED UNTIL THIS DAY..." (Joshua 22:17).
This "iniquity" of Peor was a sin that had been committed many, many years earlier (see Numbers 25:1-3 -  "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.   And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.")
It was this sin that the statement was made years later, "FROM WHICH WE ARE NOT CLEANSED UNTIL THIS DAY". 
The lingering after-effects of sin committed!  The fornication that was learned; the pleasures of sin for a season; their eyes opened to the lewd, lustful behavior of the Moabite women.
So it was with Adam and Eve, when their "eyes were opened" (Genesis 3:7). 
We are told of the church at Pergamos, "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Revelation 2:14).
The statement "from which we are not cleansed until this day" implies of necessity that fornication, such as was learned in the iniquity at Peor was still being committed by some of the Israelites.
Idols of the heart!  They plagued the children of Israel all their existence!  They gave lip service to Jehovah, but their heart was far from Him.  (see Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; 21:25; Jeremiah 13:10; 16:12; 18:12) 
Doing what was right in their own eyes; not as God commanded them!
This is still a problem within the Lord's church; lip service because of idols in one's heart.  Many are "not cleansed even to the present" but claim to be "of Christ". Let us remember the admonitions of the apostle Paul:
Galatians 6:7 - "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatsoever you sow, you will reap."
Colossians 3:1-3 - "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:5-6 - "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience...".

10/10/2017
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