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Morning Thoughts |
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Morning Thoughts |
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I Timothy
6:7, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out." This morning, it does us good to ponder from time to time how worthless we really are by nature. This exercise should not have the attitude of self-pity or entail the spirit of self-loathing. Both of these mentalities keep the primary focus on self, and the only thing we should be concerned about in regards to self is self-denial. (Mark 8:34) Rather, this exercise does something for us, in that an honest appraisal of our nature will yield a clearer view of the majesty of grace and mercy from Almighty God. Too many times, the grace and mercy from Biblical record is not appreciated, believed, or understood by people due to a warped sense of self-worth and appreciation. To better know Him and the power of His resurrection, we must better know that without Him we are nothing and less than nothing. By seeing how small we are by nature, we are better suited to see Him high and lifted up, full of grace and truth, and never-changing so that we are not consumed. (Isaiah 6:1, John 1:14, Malachi 3:6) When looking at our condition by nature, one of the clearest ways to see how we are is what we are like when we arrive and what we are like when we leave. If both of those factors remain consistent, then we have a high probability of showing that everything in between is the same as well. What is man without the grace of God? The Bible describes him as grass (Isaiah 40:6), a flower of the field (same verse), with days as fast as a weaver's shuttle. (Job 7:6) Furthermore, these days are spent in labour, vanity, and sorrow. (Psalm 90:10) None of these descriptors are very nice, but further still, this condition is more wretched like an unsound body with wounds, bruises, and putrifying sores from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet. (Isaiah 1:6) By nature, we have nothing good to claim or cling to, for our very best (not worst) state is altogether vanity. (Psalm 39:5) One might ask, "What has a discussion on the total depravity of man have to do with the verse above?" A couple of days ago, I had the experience of eating my lunch near an Indian mound at the far edge of a farmer's field. The Choctaw Indians would bury their dead in layers, and each time that someone from the tribe would die, they would hand carry buckets of dirt to bury them in the midst of all the rest. Eventually, the mound took shape from the repetition of this exercise. Also, the braves were buried with their weapons - spears, bows, arrows, etc. - and squaws were buried with utensils - bowls, spoons, etc. All of this was to prepare them for their life in the afterlife. Their notion was that whatever that had to have to use over there needed to be what they brought with them from over here. Indeed, this notion is vain and superstitious, but it spurred me to think of this verse in the light of our condition by nature. When a baby is born, it is completely naked and in need of everything. When a person dies, their death signifies that they were in need of something that could not be met. So, we leave in much the way we enter: in need. (Job 1:21) So, what have we proven if man is pretty much in the same condition by nature upon his entrance and exit? Mathematically, we have a high probability of proving that his condition in that regard is the same throughout. Things that begin and end the same are generally the same in between, and man is no exception to the rule. Furthermore, what man consists of is not worth anything, and he does not rise in value to ever be worth anything by nature. Therefore, he is able to bring nothing of value to the table, and therefore, he is excluded from winning anything of value at the table. Our death not only signifies that we had a need that could not be met - such as the body failing to pump blood or draw breath - it also signifies that we are under the curse of sin in our bodies. If our bodies were not under the curse of sin, they would not die since death is the fulfillment of sin. (James 1:13-15) By our bodies laying down in death, we show the need of a Saviour, for we have shown - in our death - that we are sinners. One day, my flesh shall be laid to rest in the ground (provided the Lord does not return again first), and all present on that occasion will be able to justly and manifestly say, "He was a sinner." Had I not been one, then death would not have come. So, our death shows that we had a need of salvation that we could not bring ourselves. When our Lord came to this world, His mission was successful. There was not one for whom His affection was set that He did not succeed in bringing salvation completely and extensively for. (Zechariah 9:9) When He sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high, He signified in His resurrection and ascension that death has no power over Him and so shall it one day hold no sway over us. (II Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 1:3) By Him ever living right now to make intercession for us, we have the sure security of living with Him some sweet day in that land called bliss and . His work carries where ours cannot go. One might declare that such a teaching on our condition impugns our good works. In actuality, it does not, but rather, it gives the proper perspective and place to them. Our good works are a result of His grace; they are for this life and this life only. They follow us, but death separates them from us (the family of God). (Revelation 14:13) If my bad works followed me beyond the grave, then I would be searching out the east from the west where my Lord took them never to be remembered again. (Psalm 103:12) If my good works followed me beyond the grave, then I would have a higher or lower place than someone else (depending on how our good works stacked up against each other), but Scripture declares us Christ's joint-heirs. (Romans 8:17) The only logical conclusion that we can come to is that His work is the only thing that carries into that great land of eternal bliss and . Without Him, our natural nakedness (need and helplessness) would be all that we are. However, thanks be unto God that that is not how we will appear. By properly understanding our natural condition, its effects, characteristics, and eventual end, we are then better prepared to understand and appreciate what He has done for us exclusive of us but wholly for us. We will not stand before Him naked, needy, helpless, and condemned. Rather, we will stand before Him perfectly clothed, holy, conquerors, and justified. Our robe is a robe that we did not bring into this world, and we are not carrying it out - it is bestowed upon us- but rather it is a robe and crown of His imputed righteousness that fully decks us in the majesty of our Elder Brother to appear in heaven fully suited and fitted for His presence. (II Timothy 4:8) In Hope,  Bro Philip |