Romans 3:23-26
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of my all-time favorite television shows is “I Love Lucy”. Every episode, Lucy gets herself into some kind of mess… and she usually recruits Ethel to help her figure out how to get out of it! She tries very hard to cover up her mistakes… she especially tries to keep her husband Ricky from finding out what has happened. But in the end, she usually needs rescuing… and often it is at the hands and mercy of Ricky Ricardo!
Many of us are a lot like Lucy and Ethel. We have these grand schemes of how we think everything ought to work out… or we see something we want – or want to happen – and we start plotting and planning how we can make it so. We may involve others in our shenanigans… or we may try to do things completely on our own. But in the end, we have one royal mess on our hands… and then we need someone to mercifully save us.
Lest you think this doesn’t apply to you, let me ask you a question or two. Have you ever wondered how on earth you were going to pass a test for which you had not adequately studied and prepared? Do you ever make big promises to someone that, going in, you know you will not be able to deliver…but you hope you can figure it all out later on and no one will be the wiser? Do you ever lie… even a little or about seemingly small things… so that people will see you in a particular light – or things will go your way? Have you ever cheated (or as Lucy might describe it “fibbed a little”) in order to achieve a desired outcome? Have you ever tried to make yourself look good at another’s expense?
These are just some of the thousands of ways that we make messes of our lives each and every day…and then wonder how we will work our way out of them. Sometimes, we have a “go-to” person who helps us make amends and mop up the trouble. Other times, we have to muddle through on our own. And more times than we care to admit, we just pretend it never happened and move on…never realizing that our disorder and disobedience accumulates into a cluttered jumble of a life.
And that’s where God comes into the picture. He stands ready and able to help us fix things, once and for all. God knows us and the sorry state of affairs we are capable of creating on our own. Yet He loves us and desires to rescue us from a life that is so messy and chaotic. He can equip us to right all of the wrongs… to ask forgiveness where necessary… and to set things right wherever possible. More importantly, with God’s help – and because of His incredible love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – we don’t have to keep on repeating the same old mistakes.
Our lives are not perpetual episodes of “I Love Lucy”! Without her continual escapades, the show would cease to exist. But the end of our “antics” can be the beginning of our life in Christ… and it can be far better than anything we ever could imagine or create on our own. We know what God offers… we know what He sacrificed through Jesus Christ in order for us to attain it. The choice is ours whether to accept Him and allow Him to operate in and through us… or not. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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