When you think about it, what are we good for? We're just a filthy bunch of evil ridden sinners. Through humans understanding: why, in his own name, would God have any reason to talk with us, love us, save us? Right after he created us we disobeyed him and did the ONLY thing he told us not to do. Human performance is grounds for expulsion – as in eternal suffering.
But wow!!! There is no way to conceivably begin to imagine how much God truly loves us.
Just the other day I was thinking about how much I had sinned, and it brought me to the Ten Commandments and how I had broken every single one of them. I had never sat down and actually passed over each one and said, “Wow, I’ve done that, that, that, and yep, I’m a sinner for sure”
1. and 2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol. Now, I have never bowed down to a golden calf or given all my praise to anything but God, but this commandment means more than that. I have done many things that have taken my time away from the Lord. I’ve gone days without speaking a word to him because I was distracted by earthly problems and pleasures. Then it hits me, like a ton of bricks or whatever is God’s equivalent: what am I doing, I haven’t spoken to my Father in days, how am I even functioning without his blessing? I had been spending more time on these false “idols” than with my Creator.
3. Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God. It really bothers me when people do this. It’s one of those things that doesn’t slip out of my mouth… but one day it did. And I frequently use the expression “Oh my God” to describe something that seems amazing. What could be so amazing to use that expressionto describe it…other than the Lord himself?
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I’ve worked, I’ve played, I’ve spent the day doing things not exactly pleasing to God. I should at least make it a point to drop him a line… “Sup dude, you are so great! Oh I gotta go the game is on!” It’s a wonder why he even answers, and you know what, he always does!
5. Honor thy Mother and Father. I’ve been unruly, I’ve been rebellious, I’ve muttered under my breath. There’s too much to do in this world that is dishonoring to your parents, and most definitely to God. They still answer too, well sometimes I get a machine…but ya know what, they’re human just like me.
6. Thou shalt not murder. OK, you’re probably getting really worried now. Fear not, I have not taken the life of another man. But just as the first two, and every one for that matter, they are not to be taken only as a direct quote. I have had very angry and furious thoughts about other people. I could imagine the world without them and think about how they would cease to be. I always come to my senses and spend the rest of the day asking for forgiveness and for God to bring me peace so that I don’t think these terrible thoughts.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Well, I’m not married, but I think this means more to God than it does to man. For starters I did make the horrific mistake of having premarital sex. I am very ashamed to admit it, but through Christ’s eternal love I know he’s telling me, “It’s cool. Remember? I died so when you make those mistakes, you can still room with me and the rest of your brothers.” (ok ok, that might be a bit lax from what he actually said. My point is I’m a sinner, no, a really really big sinner and God's eternal forgiveness is not an excuse to continue my sins) Believe it of not I actually interpreted it as honoring to God at the time, but that’s an enormous story for another time and a giant mistake I shall not make again. On another hand, I have had impure thoughts about a woman that would only be appropriate if she were my spouse. As God tells us, thinking it is the same as doing it. And along with this commandment the list continues,
8. Thou shalt not steal. Yep I’ve done it. Nope I’m not proud of it. It’s interesting that God makes a point to make this as 1 entire commandment of 10. He must have a point…
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Well, if I knew what this meant I might be able to obey it. Ooops, did it again.
10. Thou shalt not covet. Hmm, there’s too much to say about this one. There is one thing I desire very much that I don’t have to be jealous of others of having however: and that is the best thing to ever possess, an eternal life with my Father.
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” – Matthew 26:41
So what are we good for? “Absolutely nothin!” Wrong! It’s very simple actually… God tells us in Isaiah 43:7 that He created us for his glory. He’s kind of a hot head isn’t He? He created the heavens and the earth to show off his might. Wow! Aren’t you glad he did!
We have a purpose, we are good for glorifying God’s name.
But wow!!! There is no way to conceivably begin to imagine how much God truly loves us.
Just the other day I was thinking about how much I had sinned, and it brought me to the Ten Commandments and how I had broken every single one of them. I had never sat down and actually passed over each one and said, “Wow, I’ve done that, that, that, and yep, I’m a sinner for sure”
1. and 2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol. Now, I have never bowed down to a golden calf or given all my praise to anything but God, but this commandment means more than that. I have done many things that have taken my time away from the Lord. I’ve gone days without speaking a word to him because I was distracted by earthly problems and pleasures. Then it hits me, like a ton of bricks or whatever is God’s equivalent: what am I doing, I haven’t spoken to my Father in days, how am I even functioning without his blessing? I had been spending more time on these false “idols” than with my Creator.
3. Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God. It really bothers me when people do this. It’s one of those things that doesn’t slip out of my mouth… but one day it did. And I frequently use the expression “Oh my God” to describe something that seems amazing. What could be so amazing to use that expressionto describe it…other than the Lord himself?
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I’ve worked, I’ve played, I’ve spent the day doing things not exactly pleasing to God. I should at least make it a point to drop him a line… “Sup dude, you are so great! Oh I gotta go the game is on!” It’s a wonder why he even answers, and you know what, he always does!
5. Honor thy Mother and Father. I’ve been unruly, I’ve been rebellious, I’ve muttered under my breath. There’s too much to do in this world that is dishonoring to your parents, and most definitely to God. They still answer too, well sometimes I get a machine…but ya know what, they’re human just like me.
6. Thou shalt not murder. OK, you’re probably getting really worried now. Fear not, I have not taken the life of another man. But just as the first two, and every one for that matter, they are not to be taken only as a direct quote. I have had very angry and furious thoughts about other people. I could imagine the world without them and think about how they would cease to be. I always come to my senses and spend the rest of the day asking for forgiveness and for God to bring me peace so that I don’t think these terrible thoughts.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Well, I’m not married, but I think this means more to God than it does to man. For starters I did make the horrific mistake of having premarital sex. I am very ashamed to admit it, but through Christ’s eternal love I know he’s telling me, “It’s cool. Remember? I died so when you make those mistakes, you can still room with me and the rest of your brothers.” (ok ok, that might be a bit lax from what he actually said. My point is I’m a sinner, no, a really really big sinner and God's eternal forgiveness is not an excuse to continue my sins) Believe it of not I actually interpreted it as honoring to God at the time, but that’s an enormous story for another time and a giant mistake I shall not make again. On another hand, I have had impure thoughts about a woman that would only be appropriate if she were my spouse. As God tells us, thinking it is the same as doing it. And along with this commandment the list continues,
8. Thou shalt not steal. Yep I’ve done it. Nope I’m not proud of it. It’s interesting that God makes a point to make this as 1 entire commandment of 10. He must have a point…
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Well, if I knew what this meant I might be able to obey it. Ooops, did it again.
10. Thou shalt not covet. Hmm, there’s too much to say about this one. There is one thing I desire very much that I don’t have to be jealous of others of having however: and that is the best thing to ever possess, an eternal life with my Father.
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” – Matthew 26:41
So what are we good for? “Absolutely nothin!” Wrong! It’s very simple actually… God tells us in Isaiah 43:7 that He created us for his glory. He’s kind of a hot head isn’t He? He created the heavens and the earth to show off his might. Wow! Aren’t you glad he did!
We have a purpose, we are good for glorifying God’s name.
