I would like to address a word in the New Testament used only a few times but encompassing everything in it. That word is “worthy.” It is a balance term calling to mind a set of scales with a fixed weight on one tray serving as a standard and something to be weighed by it in the other tray.
With regard to our relationship with God, there are two categories where worthiness comes into play. In this devotional let me focus on the first. It has to do with weighing in alongside the standard of God’s righteousness and justice, and the result is not pretty.
God’s righteousness demands holiness and we are featherweights in that department. Indeed, we have nothing to put on the scale. Having followed Adam’s lead in seeking to be our own god, anything we may try to put on the scale is weighing rocks against gold. Sin permeates all we think and do, corrupting our righteousness and exposing us to the demand of God's justice; and God’s justice knows only one penalty for such treason. It does not call for living a good life, performing acts of penance or even “becoming a Christian.” It calls for death – the conscious death of eternal separation from God.
There is no way we can stand alone on the scale of God’s righteousness and justice. Indeed, we must be able to step off the scale and seek one who can stand in our place: a Sin Bearer who can pay the debt, and an Advocate who can present his righteousness in our place. Thus, the first category of worthiness is not a matter of our walking worthy of the Lord. It is a matter of committing ourselves into the care of Jesus who will not let the Day of Judgment carry out the death sentence against us.
This leaves us to wonder about the second category.
Next: The Worthy Walk - A Logical Response
No comments:
Post a Comment