Jeremiah 16:18
“And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.”
When a person is indicted for a crime, you will often hear that they have several counts against them. The reason this happens is because in the commission of a crime, a person breaks several laws. For instance, when a person robs a house, there are several laws they break in the commission of the crime. They are indicted for breaking and entering. They are indicted for several counts of stolen property. They can also be indicted for vandalism. If a person is present in the commission of the crime, then they are also indicted for holding a person hostage against their own will. These are just a few of the laws that can be broken in one criminal act. The prosecutor will look to have the criminal judged on each of these indictments because each law broken carries its own penalty.
That is exactly what God was saying in the verse above. Israel found themselves facing a double punishment for their sin. When Israel sinned, they not only committed the actual sin that they chose to commit, but they also left God’s will in the commission of their sin. This led to God judging them for both sins, which led to double trouble for Israel. There are a couple of lessons we can learn from this verse.
First, you never just commit one sin. There are many strings to each sin you choose to commit. You can never just commit one sin without committing another sin. Whenever you choose to sin, you not only sin in the actual commission of the sin, but you also sin by leaving God’s will. Christian, you always get yourself in double trouble whenever you choose to sin. Sin always comes in bundles, which leaves you having to face God’s judgment for each sin.
Second, God holds those who know better more accountable than those who do not. God judged Israel twice as much as He judged other nations because they knew better. They were the nation to whom God expressly gave the law. They knew better! You also know better! Because you have the Scriptures to read, and have heard sermons and been taught what is right and wrong, God holds you more accountable because of your knowledge. God always judges sin, but He holds those who know better more accountable than the person who has never been taught. You have all of the Scriptures to read, and because of that you have no excuse for your sin.
Third, sin always has a double punishment. Not only will you be punished for the wrong that you do, but you also lose the blessings you could have had if you had done right. Friend, remember that you cannot sin and continue to receive God’s blessings. God’s blessings come from doing right. You would be wise to consider how much you enjoy God’s blessings before you choose to enjoy the pleasures of sin. The pleasures of sin only last for a moment, but the blessings of God bring eternal blessings.
Let me warn you to consider your actions before you do them. Just like a criminal breaks several laws in the commission of one crime, you also break several laws in the act of one sin. Consider what you will lose and the pain that will be caused before you choose to commit sin. Look at all that your sin is doing to you. Friend it would be better to come clean than to continue in your sin and face double trouble. Now is the time to decide to quit your sin and get right with God. You will continue to have double trouble in your life as long as you commit sin. Get it right today so that God can bring His blessings back upon your life.