Showing The World What Right Looks Like

“The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”— John 1:29

The world is on a constant hunt for a treasure that is and always will be just out of reach … peace and harmony.  The reason is the root of the problem – sin. And sin is a spiritual problem…… Does that see too simple? It seems to be an overstatement of the obvious doesn’t it? Indulge me and allow to me substitute some words for sin. But first – consider that God, the Father, sent Jesus, the Son, and eventually, the Spirit of God, to the earth. A spiritual solution to a spiritual problem.  You see – man could not do anything to fix his sinful nature – it took faith in the One that God the Father sent to do that.

Let’s go to Galatians for a short list of word substitutes.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” – Galatians 5:19-21

Quite a list wouldn’t you say? All of these words reflect some sinful action derived from our sinful nature – all requiring a spiritual solution.

So about that word substitution. Adultery is a spiritual problem. Idolatry is a spiritual problem. Hatred is a spiritual problem. Envy is a spiritual problem. Murder is a spiritual problem.  Have any problem agreeing with those substitutions.  Well, since they came from the Bible, probably not.  As a spiritual problem – they need a spiritual solution.

What if I was to say Prejudice is a spiritual problem. Bigotry is a spiritual problem. Racism is a spiritual problem.  Judging others is a spiritual problem. As a spiritual problem – they all need a spiritual solution.  Man cannot resolve their root cause – only Jesus can.  Do you think that God might be trying to show us that we are seeking natural solutions to spiritual problems and the solutions that we conjure up, all of our good intentions will never – ever solve those problem? God is the source of spiritual solutions – and they can all be found in Jesus. 

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” – Colossians 3:9-14

Someone once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.  We have laws in the country, states, counties, and cities that say in essence – don’t sin, as defined by man, or you will be in trouble with the law. Yet, our prisons are full. We have laws that say we cannot show prejudice or bias toward others because of race, color, creed, religion, etc. and yet the streets are filled with protesters and rioters. The problem is not that we don’t have enough laws.  The problem is that we don’t have enough Jesus.

We must stop trying to justify our sin. By the way – to sin means that you disobeyed the Word of the Lord. Not caring about the affliction others suffer because it doesn’t affect you is – yes that’s right – it is sin. The solution for not caring is a spiritual one. The real reason you don’t care is because you don’t love God enough.  When you love God like Jesus said to love God, you will not be able to help but love others.  The solution to the problems of this world will never be fully resolved until Jesus returns. But, in the meantime, Christians can show the world what “right looks like” if they will only first fully commit their hearts to God and then fully commit their lives to each other and then let the light of Christ shine in this dark world of ours. Christians, we need to stop talking about it and start doing it – one heart at a time.

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone