Living in Sinnerville
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6.
Soon there will be an opportunity to actually live in a housing addition
named "Sinnerville." It is located in Wyoming and there are some who are
unhappy with the choice of the name. The chairperson of the Campbell County
Commission, Marilyn Mackey says about a consideration of the subdivision's
final plan including the name, "I expect there would be some discussion on
that. However, the county really does not regulate the naming of
subdivisions unless there's a conflict with another subdivision." The name,
however, is not as controversial as you might think. The subdivision's
planner is Jason Sinner. Sinner has pointed out that he is proud of his name
and others in the family who have been named Sinner. George A. Sinner is
well known in the northern states having served as Governor of North Dakota
from 1985 to 1992.
I can identify with the name problem to some extent because my grandmother's
(father's mother) maiden name was Siniard sometimes recorded as Sinard. They
were Huguenots who came to this country from France but I have wondered if
the name variation ever caused any problems for those in the family with
that name. I once lived on "Roach Street" in one small city but learned that
it was named after someone with the railroad that had helped to found the
city. I have also learned that many families still proudly bear the name.
Perhaps it is not so much the name but instead the life of the person
bearing the name that should give it meaning. Just because one person with a
certain name has not lived, as they should, does not necessarily mean that
others with the name are not living exemplary lives.
Actually, we have all lived in a literal "Sinnerville" whether we have
admitted to it or not. Because as Isaiah writes, "All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.." In the New
Testament, the apostle Paul also tells us in Romans 3:23 that we have all
sinned and failed to measure up to the holiness of God. None of us have
lived a perfect life, an absolutely holy life. Even though we may have a
desire to live such a life, it is impossible to do so and God knew that it
was impossible.
The great news, the wonderful news is that we do not have to remain in
"Sinnerville." We can move. We can change our address. Why? Because, ".the
LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." How? Receive the grace and
mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Believe and receive Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior. As Jesus Himself tells us in John 3:16, "For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life."
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