He has also set eternity in their heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Broadly speaking, it is important to understand two categories of sin: sins of commission and sins of omission. I think a good way to understand sins of commission is to understand that they are the acts we commit which break our Father’s heart. Sins of omission are the opposite, actions which are in our Father’s will for us that we do not take up. Whether it is a rejection of Him or a rejection of His Will, I have to imagine rejection is what He feels when we sin.
Perhaps it is easy to see how breaking His commandments and hurting others or ourselves brings pain to our Creator. Perhaps it is less easy grasp the ambiguity that often comes with sins of omission. What is God’s will for our lives? What is it that He wants us to do? How can I be held accountable when I do not fully understand? These are honest and challenging questions.
Of course, much of this is laid out in His Word. As Solomon tells us not to leave undone the good which we are capable of doing. Jesus continues this when He tells us to go the second mile when we are only asked to go one. We must be trustworthy in the little things. Just as sins of commission require a level of discipline to avoid them, good action takes a daily accountability in doing some Good in some way in His Name (if you are curious about this the Beatitudes and the book of Timothy are great and accessible places to start).
Yet, we are still troubled by our concept of eternity; He sets us toward grand and wonderful things. I would argue that a desire to do big things in His Name is something that He gives us. What I mean is that we should somewhere in our minds have a grand vision that we believe would be pleasing to Him and we should be working toward it little by little. We must do the daily work of our Faith, but we also have the privilege of working toward Great things on His behalf. Do not ever lose sight this (and yes this is a core theme of The Hobbit).
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