In our lives, we often think that everything is going just fine. Maybe as Christians we think that we are 'saved', we are on the path, we are doing the right thing, we are in God's plan. Maybe as someone who is not a Christian, we believe we are 'good people', and that we are helping others, we are honest, and we are doing the right thing. Surely everything is ok?

Whilst often many of these conditions are true - we are doing good works, we aren't breaking any laws, we may even be 'saved' - we begin to fall victim to the belief that God owes us something.

We begin to think that 'everything is ok'.

Today, I am here to tell you, that everything is most certainly NOT ok.

One of the things that I find hard to understand is the holiness and righteousness of God. I fail to grasp that even the smallest sin in my life is utterly detestable before God, and that for even a small sin, He cannot bear to have me in His presence - He is THAT holy. It is beyond our comprehension. I am sure many of you find the same thing - how can God condemn us to eternal punishment for one little thing?

The error I believe is that we take things from our human perspective - not the perspective of an immortal, all powerful, utterly holy God. Firstly, we only see actions. I might think that I would really like to have that sports car going down the road - but you see nothing until I either steal it or rob a bank to pay for it. God saw sin the moment I coveted it.

Secondly, because we are already sinful creatures, we are missing the 'burden of holiness' that God has. Our perspective is not from a high place looking down, but we are in among others just like us, so our measurement is purely human. To us, the desire for a sports car might be considered gluttony, or might be considered a good thing. It might be passed off as a mid life crisis, and whispered as 'he will get over it'. For some people, it is simply normality - they and all their friends own at least one, and they have no idea why anyone shouldn't have one. I am not saying a sports car is a bad thing, but that when we covet or lust over one, we have sinned. And usually only God sees that sin.

So from our perspective, there is nothing wrong until there is action, and even then we often write the action off because of our perspective. But to God, who is completely and totally holy, He can no longer bear to have us in his presence.

Coming back to our verses in Romans today, God has called many people to Him. But He didn't call holy, righteous people - because there simply are none. He has called sinners, both Jews and Gentiles (anyone who is not of Jewish decent), to be His people. But it is God's work, not ours. It is God's call, not ours. We didn't give up our sin and go to God, but God sent His son, to die on a cross, that the righteous requirement of the law would be fulfilled. And it is only in that work that we can become right before God, and we can come again before Him,

Everything is NOT ok. We might be saved. We might be doing good works. But in the end, we are still sinners - regular sinners. And without the blood of Jesus in our lives, we would be nothing.

Take some time this week and focus on that in your life. Focus on the work God has done for you. And when you do so, consider what your response should be.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you again for your work on the cross. Thank you that through Jesus, we can again come to You, as Your people. Help us to not rely on ourselves, not rely on our own works, or righteousness, but to rely entirely and completely on You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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