Sitting in a coffee shop listening to one of the most
ridiculous conversations I have ever heard. About drugs and a college professor’s
drunken tenure party and how the government and certain news channels are in on
a conspiracy to convince people weed is the devil and about the Boston bombing
and racism shown towards suspects and ignorance of news anchors talking about
Eastern European politics and about what two brothers might have said to each
other before they blew people’s legs off, and if they’re guilty and if the
government is arresting without evidence and about what makes a person do
something so terrible. And I shake my head and try to do my homework and wonder
if there really is anything to say that can be said without self-righteousness
or anger. Because it seems like such a waste of breath to say anything,
especially about how fallen man is capable of far worse, about how I am capable
of far worse, about how the sparks of goodness in humanity are meant to turn us
to the one who is good not to reignite our hope in humanity or patriotism or
religion.
And how useful is talk really? A hopeful post on facebook
might make us feel better for a moment but does it make a difference when you’re
alone in the dark wrestling with the grotesque sinfulness of your own heart?
Because we all know about it. We all know our own thoughts and we all know the
secret motivations of even seemingly selfless acts. We know the pride of self-righteousness
when we tap out a blog post that scorns the overheard conversation of others.
We know the hatred we feel towards those that hurt us and hurt loved ones. We
know the presumption that sets us up as judge over all earth events, declaring
the good and the bad in the hearts of newscasters and police officers and
terrorists. We know the secret apathy that infects us until we’re cold against
any act of violence and used to the uproar. Is there anyway to consider these
things without falling into the trap of prideful opinion? As I think about this
I can’t help but recall Jesus teaching his disciples about the message of the
Holy Spirit since we covered it in a recent Bible Study-
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:8-11
The sin we will all be judged for is unbelief. Our final
destination will not be determined based on acts of hatred or peace but on if
we were made to be at peace with God through Jesus. The final judge is just and
determining fate on an entirely different scale than we do. Humanity is not
basically good because they have already been judged for rejecting the only
just Redeemer. There is no righteous human except for Jesus. Yes, this means
our judicial system and legal system will be flawed. Yes, this means that
through our own efforts we will never be able to prevent hatred from blowing up
in a myriad of ways that will affect our lives on this earth. Yes, this means
that every single one of us- no matter the race or creed or religion is sinful
and skewed and incapable of living a truly ‘good’ life apart from Jesus. And
this IS hope, because it is only through Him that we can leave the twisted lies
of sin and enter into the ‘goodness’ of God. Finally we will be judged on these
things exactly as Satan has already been judged. Christ will not leave the
world in its brokenness but will restore and redeem it. Not through the ‘goodness’
of humanity but through His innate righteousness.
When everything within in us cries out in fear and doubt-
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” Romans 7:24
Then we will be answered-
“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25aText Reference: (1984). NIV. Grand Rapids : Zondervan.
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