I love how God gives us life lessons that reinforce biblical truths. This morning, I was "blessed" to have one of those reminders. I was taking Polly to school via our normal route. Along this route, through a neighborhood, there is a strange T-intersection. At most T-intersections, the through-traffic has the right of way and the cross traffic has a stop sign. At this intersection it is reversed and the through-traffic has the stop sign. I came to this intersection, came to a "rolling stop," look to my left, see a patrol car sitting there, and proceed through the intersection. I immediately saw the cop pull in behind me with his flashers on. I had not stopped completely. He pulls me over, gets my information and moments later, hands me a freshly printed citation for running a stop sign. This kind of irked me as I did not run the stop sign. My car did not have that little lurch that comes from coming to a full and complete stop, but I did not run it.
I dropped Polly off at school and began rehashing the scenario pleading my innocence with the oblivious passers-by. I was arguing semantics and the letter of the law. I didn't like being lumped in with those who drive dangerously and plow right through these intersections with out even slowing down! Then, I was reminded by the Spirit that I BROKE THE LAW! and I am subject to the laws of the land, and the law requires me to come to a full and complete stop. I was guilty, I could argue the verbiage, but I broke the law.
Then, I was reminded of how much this morning scene parallels our lives. I may not be as guilty as the next guy blowing through the stop sign, but I am guilty- regardless of to what degree. The Lord's half-brother James tells us that if we break one law, we stand guilty of breaking all of the law. So, if we break the law and stand before God guilty regardless of how we compare to others what hope is there? We are not judged by our own standard which varies with the weather, but rather by God's. If we cannot be right before a holy perfect God, that doesn't seem , right? I mean no one is perfect! If we could never fulfill the Law, why does it exist? Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (3:24-25)
You see, God really gives us two options to get right with Him: righteousness by the Law or righteousness by faith. If we choose the latter, the standard is perfect obedience, and NO ONE can do that...except Christ. When we trust that Christ alone can satisfy the Law, and receive His righteous as a gift of God (so that no one can boast), then we must no longer seek righteousness through the law. The Law shows us what God's standard is, and that we must rest on His grace and only His grace to save us.
Now, I wonder if I will find grace when I go to the courthouse... we'll see... but I am not going to hold my breath.
I dropped Polly off at school and began rehashing the scenario pleading my innocence with the oblivious passers-by. I was arguing semantics and the letter of the law. I didn't like being lumped in with those who drive dangerously and plow right through these intersections with out even slowing down! Then, I was reminded by the Spirit that I BROKE THE LAW! and I am subject to the laws of the land, and the law requires me to come to a full and complete stop. I was guilty, I could argue the verbiage, but I broke the law.
Then, I was reminded of how much this morning scene parallels our lives. I may not be as guilty as the next guy blowing through the stop sign, but I am guilty- regardless of to what degree. The Lord's half-brother James tells us that if we break one law, we stand guilty of breaking all of the law. So, if we break the law and stand before God guilty regardless of how we compare to others what hope is there? We are not judged by our own standard which varies with the weather, but rather by God's. If we cannot be right before a holy perfect God, that doesn't seem , right? I mean no one is perfect! If we could never fulfill the Law, why does it exist? Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (3:24-25)
You see, God really gives us two options to get right with Him: righteousness by the Law or righteousness by faith. If we choose the latter, the standard is perfect obedience, and NO ONE can do that...except Christ. When we trust that Christ alone can satisfy the Law, and receive His righteous as a gift of God (so that no one can boast), then we must no longer seek righteousness through the law. The Law shows us what God's standard is, and that we must rest on His grace and only His grace to save us.
Now, I wonder if I will find grace when I go to the courthouse... we'll see... but I am not going to hold my breath.
