The Only Thing

February 7

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities. David Hume

And, my, don't we find that to be true! If we look at those around us with an objective eye, will we not see rich evidence of the veracity of this very thing! The individual who esteems himself highly cannot fathom that another is worthy of comparable recognition. The individual who is elated with his own accomplishments will not readily give place to the achievements of a competitor. And, it is true in the spiritual realm—although believers in Christ should harbor no such attitude for the essence of faith in Jesus is that we are all without merit of our own; we are all sinners saved by grace. (See Romans 3:22-24.)

But those who are arrogant in their conceit cannot allow that the Lord's unmerited favor drapes His robe of righteousness around the sins and foibles of another. Why would someone who professes to be a believer in the Savior be so without the commodity of grace? Can it be that he believes he has found in another the one 'unforgivable' sin? Can it be that in experiencing cleansing from his own sin, he stands so completely justified that he is blind to that same grace extended to someone else? Or is it that he has never truly bowed his knee or his heart to the One who alone can forgive sin?

If he is so removed from the essence of Christianity as to withhold forgiveness and grace from another, perhaps it is because he has never truly experienced them himself. Perhaps he abides in his sin and therefore requires others to bear their sin as well—for he thereby absolves himself in his own mind without allowing Jesus to wash him clean--he feels he cleanses himself by comparing himself to others who are equally stained. He tells himself that by comparison to them, his sins are trivial; and he thereby is self-delivered from guilt.

Were this rationale an accurate one, we could each absolve our sins before God simply by comparing ourselves to someone like Adolph Hitler or to a bloodthirsty terrorist who randomly kills the innocent for perceived political advantage. There is always someone to whom we may compare ourselves who will make us look innocent by the contrast. But they are not the ones to whom our Holy God compares us. It is to Jesus alone that we will be compared, for HE alone is without sin.

He is holy. We are sinful. He is perfect. We are flawed. He has the authority to judge men's hearts. We have no right to judge another for we cannot see hearts. No one, no man, can wield the scepter of Christ. No man can wear His crown. None of us can reign over another, for we are all under the same condemnation. The only thing that allows us to rule and reign with Him eternally (II Timothy 2:12) is that we are washed clean, that we are absolved of sin, that we are counted righteous, that we are precious in the beloved--and that comes only when we allow Jesus to wash us clean in His shed blood.