It Was the ‘Most’ That He Could Do

Suppose you had to make a literal life-and-death decision: Take steps to save the life of someone you dearly loved, or choose instead to protect the lives of dozens, even hundreds of people – at the expense of your loved one? That’s a horrendous question even to ask, much less consider. Hopefully none of us would ever be in that position. Nevertheless, what do you think you’d do?

 

This is the plot of a short film, “Most,” set in the Czech Republic. It’s not new, having been produced in 2003. But it won multiple awards from the film industry, and more than 20 years later continues to draw strong reactions from all who view it. It’s about a single father who takes his eight-year-old son to work with him, never imagining the consequences.

 

The father is the bridge tender for a railroad drawbridge which spans a river. His job is simple – when ships approach, raise the drawbridge until they pass, then lower it so oncoming trains can go over it. One particular day he brings his son with him to work. They’re having lunch when he receives a call that a train is coming, earlier than expected. Since he has just raised the bridge to allow a ship to pass through, he must quickly lower it again for the oncoming train. 

 

Unfortunately, while the father is occupied in the engine room, the son innocently decides to play nearby. He stumbles and falls into the drawbridge’s gearworks, becoming caught and unable to get out. As the father looks down in horror at his son’s plight, he also hears the whistle of the train fast approaching. Instantly the bridge tender is faced with an impossible, no-win decision: Leave the drawbridge up and save his son but cause the deaths of hundreds of people on the train – or lower the bridge at the expense of his son’s life.

 

With no time to weigh pros and cons, he agonizingly lowers the drawbridge, securing the train’s safe passage but resulting in killing his son. Passengers on the train are busy talking and laughing, oblivious to the unthinkable choice the father has make.

 

There’s more to this fictitious story, but as an allegory it asks us to ponder the imponderable. How could a loving father allow his own son to die?

 

It’s not too hard to think of another Father who made a similar choice, one of even greater, eternal significance. Approximately 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified as God the Father looked on. This was the plan from the start, not an unforeseen circumstance. As Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

This wasn’t a death by lethal injection, gas chamber, firing squad, or even hanging. It was being nailed to a wooden cross, regarded by many as the most horrendous, excruciating method for execution ever devised. The Roman Empire made lots of worthwhile contributions that we still benefit from today, but crucifixion wasn’t one of them.

 

But even greater than Jesus’ physical pain was the absolute interruption of the perfect harmony He and God the Father had enjoyed for all of eternity. The reality of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is something that confounds the human mind. But we read the devastation Christ’s crucifixion caused in His agonizing words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

 

We can’t begin to comprehend what this was like, but the Scriptures leave no doubt as to why it was necessary. The book of Romans states the case with clarity. Perhaps in response to anyone who might claim, “Well, I’m a pretty good person,” or “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere,” Romans 3:10-12 declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

 

Could it be clearer than that? There’s an incredible dilemma, one we can’t resolve: Each one of us is utterly sinful, totally undeserving of the love of a perfect, holy, righteous God. As the apostle Paul confessed in the same letter to believers in Rome, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).

 

However, in the very next verses Paul writes that God – as only He could – has provided the remedy: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!... Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 7:25-8:1).

 

Another passage expresses both the problem and the solution: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood…” (Romans 3:22-25).

 

The image of the bridge tender consciously sacrificing his son so the passengers on the train would live gives us a small measure of understanding. However, what the Lord did for us on the cross is of infinitely greater magnitude, literally a matter of eternal life or death. 

As Jesus told his friend Martha after her brother Lazarus had died – and before the Lord raised him from the dead – “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26). And as the apostle affirmed with unwavering conviction, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That truly was the “Most” He could do. 

Love Means Having to Say You’re Sorry

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Do you remember that phrase? It was the most memorable line from a popular 1970 film called “Love Story.” Based on a best-selling novel by Erich Segal, the movie was a classic rendition of the star-crossed-lovers theme. Even today it ranks No. 9 on the American Film Institute’s list of most romantic films.

It was about Jenny Cavalleri (played by Ali MacGraw), a working-class student of classical music, and Oliver Barrett IV (played by Ryan O’Neal), the heir of an upper-class family – as the Roman numeral at the end of his name implied. Despite their  differences, the two fell in love and married against the wishes of Oliver’s father.

 

For a while it seemed the couple would overcome their obstacles to live happily ever after, but then Jenny was diagnosed with an incurable blood disease. As Oliver struggled to cope with the hopeless situation, his wife uttered the words that became a catch phrase for the era: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

 

It sounded clever at the time, but experience and wisdom have taught me that just the opposite is true. Love at times does require a willingness to say you’re sorry. In a marriage, a sincere apology or asking for forgiveness is the fastest way to begin healing hurts when one or the other partner is wronged, intended or not.

 

A parent will often insist that a child say “I’m sorry” for words or actions of disobedience, but the parent should also be willing to admit when he or she has spoken or acted wrongly toward the child.

 

In the working world, expressions of contrition can likewise mend damage caused by arguments and conflict. In a competitive environment, colleagues can quickly become at odds. A timely, genuine “I’m sorry” can restore much-needed cooperation and synergy.

 

We find the ultimate example in our relationship with God. We know that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He suffered the penalty for our sins. In Jesus’ last words He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), His word in the Greek was tetelestai, which means “paid in full.” However, His offer of total forgiveness – what theologians called “justification” – demands that we say those words that are often so hard to utter, “I’m sorry.”

 

More accurately, it requires repentance, a conscious decision to turn from going in the wrong direction and embarking on a journey of following the Lord instead. Declaring the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News” (Mark 1:15). The implication is clear: If we don’t repent, do we truly believe that, as Romans 3:23 asserts, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”?

 

After Jesus’ resurrection, He told His disciples, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations…” (Luke 24:46-47).

 

Early on we find the disciples carrying out this mission. Speaking to astonished onlookers after a crippled beggar has received healing, the apostle Peter admonished them, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

 

As we strive to maintain and strengthen our relationship with the Lord, however, repentance isn’t a one-off event. Just as a healthy marriage is marked by times of apology and requests for forgiveness, our sins – even though paid for once and for all – must be acknowledged. Failure to do so disrupts communication and a harmonious relationship with God.

 

This is why we’re instructed in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  To love God is to desire to please Him, to honor Him and obey Him. As we learn in a verse later in the same book, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

To enjoy a healthy marriage, a nurturing relationship with our children, and a growing relationship with God, love means sometimes having to say you’re sorry. 

Mid-Term Elections: Will They Really Change Anything?

Less than a week from now, if they haven’t taken advantage of early voting, citizens around the country will stream to the polls to cast votes for a variety of races and issues. At stake are governorships, U.S. Congressional races, state and local contests, amendments and referendums. The mid-term elections are under way. How could we forget, with the bombardment of political ads we’ve been enduring for months?

Much has been expressed about the ramifications of the election, of this or that party keeping or losing control of the House and the Senate, along with who will lead key states in the coming years. But in the end, will we discover that when all has been said and done, much more will have been said than done?

 

Whenever an ad for a candidate comes on – virtually any candidate – I’m reminded of the old perfume commercial that advised, “Promise her anything – but give her Arpege.” Because politicians are notorious for making campaign promises, for pretty much anything, only to promptly forget those vows and assurances once they’re sworn into office.

 

But let’s suspend our disbelief. Let’s set aside the ample evidence that while all politicians promise, few truly keep those promises. Let’s suppose that through some civic miracles, those elected will decide to abide by what they’ve said they would do. Will things really change all that much?

 

I’m all in favor of the political process, subscribing to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address notion in 1863 that ours is a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Unlike monarchies, dictatorships, and tyrannical forms of government that give citizens little or no voice in how their countries and communities are run, we get to vote. The people and parties we favor don’t always win, but at least we’ve had the opportunity to cast our ballots and indicate our preferences.

 

To ensure I would not fail to vote on Election Day due to illness or some emergency, I took advantage of the opportunity to go to a local polling place a couple weeks ago. My votes have been cast and recorded. Exercising my civic duty and Constitutional right, I’m hoping the “right” candidates are elected.

 

However, I return to my earlier question: Will things really change all that much? The reason I ask is because of a simple truth stated and reaffirmed in the Scriptures: “For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No matter how well-intended they are, in electing people to represent us in any level of government, we are choosing flawed, sinful individuals to serve on our behalf.

 

Romans 3:10-12 expresses it even more emphatically: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.” I don’t think God could not have made it more clear. Sometimes in reading this passage, I wonder whether politicians were the first collection of folks the Lord had in mind.

 

This was why, when the people of Israel asked the prophet Samuel for a king, it was an affront to God. “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel…. And the Lord told him, ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king’” (1 Samuel 8:6-7).

 

Then God admonished Samuel, “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do” (1 Samuel 8:9). The prophet obeyed, giving the warning and then concluding, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:18).

 

The Israelites did not listen, insisting that they have a king just like the nations around them. And indeed, starting with King Saul and a parade of kings that followed him, they were ruled by imperfect, sometimes very corrupt kings. The parade of leaders with feet of clay (or worse) commences in 1 Samuel, continuing through 2 Chronicles and beyond.

 

Does this imply the Scriptures are opposed to the democratic process, including the right to vote and elect our governmental leaders? Definitely not. But after reading the biblical narratives in which even the best kings sometimes wallowed in sin, our voting should take a “buyer beware” approach. No candidate or party is going to become the panacea for the ills of our nation – or the world.

 

As Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). While the context of this statement concerns material wealth and possessions, the point is clear: We cannot give our allegiance both to God and to worldly matters.

 

When we vote, our responsibility is to choose candidates and issues that we believe align best with biblical teachings, and then trust in the assurance of Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” He alone is the true King.

 

If we don’t ask Him to give us the leaders we need, He’ll give us the leaders we deserve. Lord have mercy!

When a Gift Ceases to Be a Gift

By now, Christmas has become a distant memory. What were those gifts we received, anyway? Some of us have moved on, already starting to compile a new list of wants for next Christmas. We all enjoy receiving gifts, don’t we? The more the merrier!

But have you ever considered what a gift really is? Or what could possibly happen so that a gift would cease to be a gift?

Some TV talk show hosts, like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and others, are known for being gift givers. Recipients might be people confronting difficult circumstances; their gifts intended to help them overcome their adversity. Others receiving gifts might be folks engaged in noble causes, working with limited resources to assist people in need. And sometimes, the studio audiences are the beneficiaries, receiving free books, cosmetics, small appliances and, on rare occasions, more extravagant gifts.

But what if an intended recipient, for whatever reason, declined or refused to accept the gift? Would it still be a gift?

One thing is certain: If not accepted, the intent of the gift will never be fulfilled. Why is this important? Because the Scriptures repeatedly refer to salvation – which includes receiving forgiveness for sins and gaining the assurance of eternal life – as a “gift.” 

Case in point: After presenting the bad news, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), the apostle Paul provides the good news: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

After explaining how what the Bible calls our “sin nature” became a universal part of mankind’s spiritual heredity because of Adam’s disobedience, Paul writes about the impact of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection: “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow for the many!” (Romans 5:15).

And writing to believers in ancient Corinth, reminding them about “the surpassing grace God has given…,” Paul enthusiastically declares, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:14-15).

Other passages speak more about this gift, but two truths about gifts must be recognized, especially God’s gift of eternal life: First, a gift isn’t earned; it’s given freely, not based on merit or performance. As Titus 3:5 states, “[Jesus] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy….” And second, the gift must be received. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Even the most well-known verse in the Bible affirms this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This passage doesn’t say that everyone is guaranteed eternal life, even though God “gave.” It makes clear this gift applies to “whoever believes in [Christ].” In other words, for those who don’t believe – or refuse to believe – the gift is null and void.

Does this sound exclusive? Perhaps. But consider who is doing the “excluding.” A TV talk show guest, or a member of the studio audience, might correctly state he or she didn’t go home with a gift from the show. But that would only be because they chose not to accept – or receive – the gift. They determined to exclude themselves from the gift.

As I understand it, this is true as well for the ultimate gift – that of eternal life. The gift has been offered, but it still must be received. So the question we must all ask ourselves – or should ask ourselves – is, “Have I received this gift? And if not, why not?”

A Moving Picture, Not a Snapshot

This photo from atop the city hall makes Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
Germany look like a fairytale village.

Besides writing, one of my favorite pastimes is photography. It started in college. After taking one course in photojournalism my senior year, I was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship – in photojournalism. I would complement what the professor taught about taking photos: things like composing a photo, cropping through the view finder, focusing, depth of field, panning (following a moving object), etc. I even showed students how to load film in their cameras. (Yes, it was way back then, in the pre-digital days.) Then I’d instruct on how to develop their film, then print their own black-and-white photos. Voila!

At first I wondered why, being relatively new to photography, I was assigned to assist with the photojournalism curriculum. In retrospect, I realized a great way to learn a craft is by teaching it. This became a great asset, since the community newspapers I would work on required the editor to also serve as the photographer. I did this, too, as a magazine editor. My journalistic credo became, “Have camera, will travel.” 

I've often wondered what these workers
in Budapest, Hungary were looking at.

Over the past 50-plus years, the tally of photos I’ve taken can only be described as “countless.” For instance, on my first trip to Europe – in the pre-digital camera days – I departed with 20 rolls of film; two weeks later I returned with more than 50. And I “shutter” to think of the cameras I’ve worn out.

Yet, I’ve rarely done video photography. It’s almost always been still photos, aiming to capture the perfect image, whether of a family member, an event, or beautiful scenery. I’ve just regarded it as a preference, even though taking videos has become much easier with digital cameras. But a speaker’s comment caused me to ponder “why not video?” more deeply.

Crawford Loritts observed, “Life is a moving picture, not a snapshot.” This struck me as profound, considering the thousands of snapshots I’ve taken over my lifetime. So, what’s the difference?

With a snapshot – whether it’s a scenic spot we come across while traveling, an image from a birthday party or sporting event, a posed shot of loved ones, or even a selfie – we can be very selective. We can reshoot if necessary to get the very best picture we can. With digital technology, if we don’t like a photo, we can discard it, or delete it from a memory card.

Skills and expertise required for video imagery are very different from still photography, and videos capture the complete range of expressions, not just the pretty smiles. There’s lots of unnecessary “footage,” stuff to edit out for maximum impact. A video might catch us at our best – but also at our worst.

Life’s like that, isn’t it? Along with the exhilarating, mountaintop experiences we revel in and eagerly share with others, there’s lots of mundane stuff we endure. There’s the pain and struggle no one wants to have represented in an album or photobook. We want people to see only the best of our best. On social media we want to display our highlights – but not our low-lights.

However, we all know that real life isn’t non-stop euphoria. That’s why James 1:3-4 admonishes us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Life’s going to serve up tough times, like it or not. We can either deal with them in positive ways, seeking to learn and grow from them – or can resist them, seeking to conceal them like dirty laundry.

Speaking of which, snapshots usually our happy-happy, got-it-all-together sides. But the moving pictures of our lives include flaws, warts, all the bad stuff we don’t want anyone to see. But we can take heart in knowing that no one’s immune to flaws and warts. As Romans 3:10 asserts, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” Later in the same chapter we’re reminded of the reality, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

In a travelogue, the images we see represent the beauty of a city or region. We don’t see the impoverished areas, the crumbling buildings. It’s all snapshots – or strategically edited videos. When I traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, the hillside barrios weren’t in the travel brochures. Nor were the favelas of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Only the pretty scenery. But in reality, they were there.

Everyday life comes at us raw, unedited. A candid mix of the bad with the good. That’s why, ultimately, we need a Savior. We can’t clean up our own act. We need someone to do it for us. The good news is, Someone has. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares,“God made him (Jesus Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” In Christ, our moving pictures can be just as impressive as our snapshots.

Missing the Mark – By a Country Mile

Growing up, for some reason my right eye became a target. I remember numerous times when objects struck it – metal toy gun, wiffle ball, tennis ball. As a result, I never excelled at activities that required keen eyesight. When your vision is something like 20/400 in one eye without corrective lenses, you don’t earn the nickname, “Eagle Eye.” So I avoided competitions that involved targets, like archery. However, you don’t need to be a skilled archer to understand the principles of the sport.

The target has a series of concentric circles, with the small one in the middle called the “bull’s-eye.” (I understand most archers prefer the term “the gold,” since that’s the color of the central circle on the target. But since I’m not an archer, I’ll stick with bull’s-eye. The objective is to shoot the arrow as close to the bull’s-eye as possible. If you hit the bull’s-eye, people might say you have a “good eye.” If you can hit the bull’s-eye multiple times, you’ll probably win the competition. 

Do you know what they call an expert archer? A “toxophilite.” Remember that for the next time that question is asked on a tough crossword puzzle. Why do I mention this? Because, according to the Bible, no one is a toxophilite, spiritually speaking. 

The Greek word “sin” literally means, “to miss the mark.” So when we read in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God,” it means because our actions, thoughts and words consistently miss God’s “mark,” we can never succeed in life on our own. In terms of personal performance, the only people who could earn their way into heaven would be those who hit the bull’s-eye every time, from their first breath to the moment they breathe their last.

When we sin – miss the mark – we start earning our “wages,” but these wages aren’t good. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death….” Uh-oh. Bad news, right? If we stop there, we realize there’s no hope for us. The Bible teaches good intentions aren’t good enough. As someone has said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

I try to love my wife as Christ loved the Church, and sincerely intend to do so, but I’m not always successful. I’ve made good progress at controlling my temper, but sometimes I fail. I definitely know I should be kinder, more considerate, more compassionate than I am. Do I wish I were better? No question. But too often when I take aim with my spiritual bow, the result is a resounding, “Sin!”

Fortunately, there’s a second part to Romans 6:23. After defining sin’s wages as death – eternal separation from God – it offers good news: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Like any true gift, we didn’t earn it or deserve it. Nevertheless, it’s offered freely. All we have to do is receive it.

What if someone thinks, “Hey, I’m not a bad person. Quit talking about this sin stuff. Maybe I do sin, but not that much!” Our pastor recently gave an example putting this into perspective. He said suppose you’re a super-good person – people can find little fault with what you do. Let’s say you sin only three times a day. The rest of the time, your thoughts, words and deeds are, as they say, pure as the driven snow. Pretty good, right?

Well, do the math: Just three sins a day. Over the course of a 365-day year, that’s still well over 1,000 sins. And who do you know who truly sins only three times a day? Remember, Jesus said all the commandments boil down essentially to two things: Loving God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind; and loving our neighbor as ourselves. How are you doing with those? 

When the gravity of this truth finally hits home, there’s only one proper reaction: “Lord, have mercy!” Again, there’s good news. He does have mercy – and grace. Two foundational passages from the Scriptures tell us this. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” And Titus 3:5 states, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Entire books could be written about this central, biblical doctrine. In fact, many already have. Just as my imperfect eyes prevented me from ever becoming an expert marksman – or toxophilite – our brokenness causes us to repeatedly miss the mark of God’s perfect standard. 

Thankfully, His love and favor aren’t based on our capacity for hitting the bull’s-eye. Jesus did all that’s necessary: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We don’t need to hit the “bull’s-eye,” because Jesus has done it for us.

The Fickle Finger of the Unforgiving Past

“Your sins will find you out!” This ancient adage rings as true today as ever. Newspaper headlines and daily news broadcasts have affirmed this in recent days. Racist comments made decades ago; similarly insensitive costumes that were worn in years past; instances of sexual harassment and, worse yet, sexual assault. All have risen out of the ashes of personal history to haunt elected officials, candidates for public office, business executives, Hollywood celebrities, and even some religious leaders.

Misdeeds of the past have a disconcerting way of re-emerging to disrupt the dreams and ambitions of people seeking to gain positions of public trust.

This sobering warning actually originated with Moses, speaking to the Reubenites and Gadites, two of the tribes of Israel. They wanted to settle on one side of the Jordan River with their families and livestock while the rest of the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan, where they intended to establish their new homes. According to the Old Testament, the soldiers of Reuben and Gad vowed to first join their fellow Israelites in taking the land God had promised to them, before returning to the other side of the river.

After being persuaded the Reubenites and Gadites were sincere, not seeking to escape their obligations, Moses warned, "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Thinking about this, I’m reminded we can’t undo the past, no matter how much we’d like to do so. Not one of us would want our lifetime collection of warts, flaws and poor choices openly displayed for public review. Poor or unwise judgment and behavior in the past are like getting tattoos. They seemed like a good idea at the time, but in retrospect we can’t help but wonder, “What was I thinking?”

King Solomon wisely observed, “There is not a righteous man on earth, who does right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). The apostle Paul, once notorious as a zealous enemy of Christians, piggybacked on Solomon’s declaration, then elaborated when he wrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

After Paul continued his harsh appraisal of the natural state of humankind, he finally asserted, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If we as imperfect, fallible people find ourselves shocked, even incensed by others’ words and deeds, imagine how our holy, all-righteous God must feel – not only about theirs, but also ours?

This is why Jesus Christ admonished against our fondness for judging and assessing others. However, it wasn’t simply to condemn those who come across as judgmental and “holier than thou.” He said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).

Sometimes when I watch or listen to the 24/7 media ranting relentlessly about someone’s failures, I wonder how many of those same commentators, if we peered into their personal lives – and histories – would be found guilty of the same or similar misdeeds, or perhaps worse?

As Paul wrote elsewhere in his letter to the church in Rome, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things” (Romans 2:1). He remembered well, even citing some of his own past sins. Are we as willing to openly acknowledge our own?

Writing to another group of believers in the Greek city of Corinth, the apostle also warned, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” also recognizing, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man…” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). To put this into today’s vernacular, when we point fingers at someone else’s wrongdoing, the remaining fingers are pointing back at ourselves.

Thankfully, the God who revealed Himself in the Bible is far more forgiving than the court of public opinion – and the ever-accusing media. Despite being perfect and holy, He offers forgiveness, cleansing and a literal new start through Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Referring to His impending death on the cross while serving the Passover meal to His followers, Jesus explained, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

So while past sins could possibly be brought to the public consciousness, especially if we’re in the public eye (not a good place to be these days, it seems), once we’ve confessed them and received forgiveness from God, He’ll never revisit them again. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). And that’s why it’s called, Good News!

Another ‘All’ – Sadly, Not a Good One

In my last post, I wrote about the many times the word “all” appears in the Scriptures – nearly 6,000. The term offers great encouragement, assurance of God's presence and personal involvement in every circumstance, good and bad, that we confront in this journey called life. But not every use of “all” is as uplifting.

We need to understand the meaning of "all."

Romans 3:23 declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The same chapter also says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). That sounds harsh – and all-encompassing.

Why is this important? All we need to do is watch the evening news, or read a newspaper, for the answer. Of late we’ve heard report after report about prominent individuals – entertainers, politicians, news media celebrities, athletes and others – accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct. Reactions by employers and their industries have been swift and severe. And sadly, as some observers suggest, this may be merely the tip of a proverbial iceberg of similar accusations yet to come.

Some of these persons reveled in the misdeeds of others; now the weight of guilt has fallen on their own shoulders. How can this be? It’s because, as the Bible asserts without wavering, we all have sinned – and fallen far short of God’s glory and His perfect standards.

These recent episodes focus on one specific form of sin, but they teach a broader lesson. How can such wrongdoing be so pervasive? Why have so many stumbled, people who should have known better?

Sociologists and psychologists might offer different explanations, but I believe the reason is very simple. In our “enlightened,” “progressive,” amoral culture, we’ve rejected the clear warnings of the Scriptures. The ancient book of Job, describing the travails he endured and the debate between himself and his so-called friends, recounts his bold statement, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” (Job 31:1). He knew even a desiring stare could lead to serious consequences.

In the book of Proverbs, chapters 4-9 speak about the snares of sexual temptation and the devastating results when those temptations are acted upon and turned to sin. Here’s a sampling:

• “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
• “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:3-4).
• “…a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself” (Proverbs 6:32).
• “All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose…little knowing it will cost him his life” (Proverbs 7:22-23).

Jesus addressed this in His “sermon on the mount.” He warned, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

Not everyone is guilty of sexual sin, although a wise man once told me that we all have broken every one of the Ten Commandments in thought, word or deed. But without question, we all fit the description of Romans 3:23. We all have sinned and fallen desperately short of God righteous standard.

What’s to be done about this? It has already been done. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” A bit later it also states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Our part is uncomplicated: Recognize our sin, repent, and receive God’s gracious and unconditional gift. Now that’s what we can call “good news” – and it’s available to all of us.