Help Me Out Here

The Word is first...

Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)
³ For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

There are just some things I cannot do alone. For instance, yesterday I was reminded that by myself I am unable to get a 150lb water heater into the attic. In order to get that tank up into the attic not only did I have to broaden the opening but I also had to identify, ask, accept and depend upon help from another. It took two men the better part of the day to accomplish the job but in the end, it was finished.

Inasmuch as I am unable to do that job by myself, so too am I unable to meet the righteous requirements of God's Perfect Law. No matter how much I might struggle and strain, my sin nature condemns me under the law as I am unable to carry it out. I can't blame my ancestors for I myself have sinned and fallen far short of God's glorious standards.

In my youth (and my folly) I tried to broaden the way to Heaven. I mistakenly thought that if I could just make it a little bit wider, more inclusive so to speak, then I could make it through the opening and into the presence of God. Not only was I unable to broaden that gate, it was the wrong gate at the end of the wrong road. Long before I ever set out for that destination, my sin and The Law had already sealed my fate.

But even before I struck out on that journey, another knew my need and he himself threw open the gates by paying the penalty of my sinfulness on my behalf. He built bridges from the road I was destined to travel that I could escape the dead-end of sin and cross over onto the Highway of Holiness (nod to Dr. Stephen Olford who articulated this for me).

Though I had sinned and fallen short, though by my own efforts I could not overcome the righteous requirement of God's Perfect Law, by his sacrifice the sin in me was condemned and I was set free. Not only was I set free from the chains which I had fashioned myself but I was declared righteous. I was given a new life in Christ to be lived according to the Holy Spirit and by that the requirements were met.

All I had to do was to identify the risen Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had to ask for God's forgiveness for my sin. I had to accept the sacrifice of Jesus as a blood offering on my behalf. And I have to depend upon Him for the daily strength to live according to the call He has placed upon my life. It took a death upon the cross and the better part of my life to accomplish the job but in the end, it is finished.

Perhaps like me, you are trying to do this job by yourself. Perhaps like me, you think that by broadening the opening and trying harder you accomplish the task. Trust me when I say that this is one job that you absolutely, positively can not do. You need the help of Jesus. There! The first step is done; that is to identify the one who can give you the help you desperately need. Now it's up to you to ask, accept and depend. As soon as you do, that job is done, it is finished.

Shalom,
Carl