Manna in the Morning

I was intrigued recently by some comments by John Alexander who approaches things from a little different perspective in what he calls “The Other Side.” He writes, “to deny sin is bad news, indeed. The only good news is sin itself. Sin is the best news there is, the best news there could be in our predicament.

“Because with sin, there’s a way out. There’s the possibility of repentance. You can’t repent of confusion or psychological flaws inflicted by your parents—you’re stuck with them. But you can repent of sin.

“Sin and repentance are the only grounds for hope and joy. The grounds for reconciled relationship. You can be born again.”

John’s approach to our predicament reminds me of something that Billy Sunday said in a revival meeting: “A sinner can repent... but, stupid is forever!” 

So, you see there is wonderful news for me and you and everybody... yes, we are sinners... but through and because of Jesus Christ there is good news... through Him we can be forgiven... we can be born again! Remember Paul’s word in Romans 5:6, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1) Paul wrote those words to Christians who were on the verge of placing themselves under slavery to the Old Covenant Law again. They were forgetting about the promise of freedom they had received through Christ. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress, Christian and Hopeful are imprisoned in the Doubting Castle of Giant Despair. All attempts to escape have failed. Finally, just as the two are about to give up, Christian makes an amazing discovery. “What a fool I am,” he declares, “to lie in a stinking dungeon when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom called Promise that will open any lock in Doubting Castle.” The Good News is that the promise of freedom from slavery to sin is readily available through Jesus Christ... He is our Promise... our Gift... our Hope!

There’s a great verse in I Peter 4:8 that says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Fervent is a word that speaks of intensity and determination. It is an athletic term for stretching to reach the tape. Have you watched the fellows and gals who run the dash? When they come around that last turn and they’re pressing for the tape, they’ll get right to the end and then they’ll lunge forward. Sometimes they fall right there on the track because they’re pushing so hard. Those who do the long jump stretch every muscle of their body to reach as far as they can. The same is true of high jumpers and with pole vaulters. They stretch to the uttermost to reach the limit. That’s what the word fervent is all about. God is fervent in His love for us. We need to be fervent in our love for Him and for others. If your love has cooled...then re-ignite the flame and be fervent in your love.