Issue 1301 – Man in the Mirror – November 30, 2023
The alarm went off way too soon for my liking. It felt like my head had barely touched the pillow, and I had to get up again.
I stumbled out of bed and into the washroom. The man in the mirror looking back at me needed a shave. He looked exhausted, and he looked like he could stand to lose some weight. (No, that’s not me in the image. I don’t look nearly that together first thing in the morning. It’s an image I found online)
I stared at the man in the mirror for a long time. When I was done staring, he was still overweight, tired and in need of a shave. No amount of looking in the mirror was going to change things. In fact, if I had stood there long enough, I would have been even more tired and in need of a shave.
That’s the way it is with the Law of the Old Testament (no, I don’t mean it needs to lose weight or shave). The purpose of the Law was to cause people to reflect and make changes. No amount of external religious ritual or good intentions will ever change any person’s heart. The Law was created to point the way to something else.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:18-21
Just as the mirror reflects but offers no solution, the Law was designed to reflect the futility of salvation through external means. No one could keep all the Law. That’s where Jesus enters into the picture.
Since none of us can keep the Law, we have no hope except through Jesus Christ. Through simple faith in Him comes redemption. Forgiveness is ours for the asking.
If you’ve been depending on anything except simple faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you’re missing the boat. No amount of “religion,” no ritual, tradition, or good works will cut it. Those things will just point the way to your shortfalls.
Church attendance or membership doesn’t cut it. Tithing doesn’t do it, nor does baptism. All those things are important but meaningless without the new heart.
The Law is good. Jesus didn’t come to destroy it. Salvation, however, is apart from the Law. For that, I’m eternally grateful.
The Old Testament is necessary; we ignore it to our own peril. It behooves every Christian to read and understand it because it points to Christ and God’s plans. I am far from anti-Old Testament, but we need to recognize that we are missing the point if we try to follow the law it contains to be saved. They can help us live moral lives and understand the New Testament better, but those laws cannot save us.
Until next time, rejoice that Father sent His Son for us.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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