A devotional thought presented originally to Swift Current Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Thursday 05 March 2015.
Presented to the River Street Cafe, Toronto, 03 June 2016.
Presented to the River Street Cafe, Toronto, 03 June 2016.
Read Romans
9:30-33
Remember
the classic story, Alice through the Looking Glass? At one point there
are two groups of people: those determined to reach a goal and those who are
not. Those determined to reach the goal, walk towards a mirror where it is
reflected but – of course – they never reach it because its not there; only the
reflection is there. The ones, however, who turn (repent) and walk in the
opposite direction are the one’s who actually find it.
We can
never grab an image in the mirror because it is not a real item: it is just a
reflection. This is like the Law and Israel: the Law is a reflection of God
(cf. Wright, Romans, 649). It is not God and as long as one is reaching
for this reflection, one can never grasp God. As long as you are reaching for his
reflection rather than for Jesus - even though he is right beside you – you
will never reach him.
I
think sometimes in our churches we make this mistake. I think sometimes we can
be tempted to believe that if we come to church and sing some songs we’ll be
saved. Do we sometimes think that if we don’t swear, drink, smoke, gamble or
whatever else we don’t do than we’ll be okay? Are we fooled into believing that
if we are nice, don’t hurt anyone, and are likable than we deserve to go to
heaven?
Well
if any of us are hoping to get to God by being liked, being nice, or by our own
righteousness; then we will be disappointed because personality, good works,
and our own righteousness are nothing more than grasping at an image in the
mirror.
Now
there is good news: Romans 9:33, those who do trust in Jesus, rather than his
reflection, will never be disappointed. We don’t need to look at anything else;
we don’t need to be deceived by a reflection. Jesus is standing with us and he
will never leave us nor forsake us.
This
is gospel: Jesus died, rose from the dead, is coming back and whosoever
believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This is
what we notice when we stop looking in mirrors of our righteousness, rules,
regulations, traditions and/or anything else. When we turn away from these and
repent – the word repent means to turn – we will see Jesus and be saved. This
is good news.
This
is not to say that there aren’t good things about traditions and right
behaviour; this is just to say quite simply that they won’t save us. So our
questions for today: Are there ways in our own lives when we are tempted to
ignore God and try to grasp an image, a rule maybe, or a ritual instead? Are
there times when we, like first century Israel, rely on our righteousness and
in the process actually turn our backs on God? And if so what can we do to turn
(repent) and see Jesus?
[1] Based on the sermon by Captain Michael Ramsay, Romans 9:30
–10:4: The Law through the Looking Glass. Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale
Salvation Army, 04 May 2008 and Swift Current, 02 August 2009. On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2008/05/romans-930-104-law-through-looking.html
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