It Didn't Work
Dear Champions,
The short excerpt is by Tim Keller and is from a sermon on the Prodigal Son and the older brother (Luke 15:11-32).Luke 15:28-29 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
The Pharisees were excellent at following the rules, and Jesus over and over again says to them that the pimps and prostitutes were going into the kingdom of God before them (Matthew 21:31). As John Girsner once put it, "The thing that really separates us from God is not so much our sins but our damnable good works." How could your goodness separate you more from God than your badness?
Your goodness actually masks your battle with God. The Bible defines sin as trying to be your own Savior and Lord. If you are the prodigal brother, you just decide to be your own Savior and Lord. You say, "I don't need God or religion. Don't tell me what's right and wrong. I will decide what is right and wrong for me." You know that you've kicked God out of your life. Therefore when there is smoke and when your life falls apart, you say that maybe you need God.
But if you are the elder brother, your goodness masks the fact that you are also being your own Savior and Lord. Because of your goodness you aren't all of that dependent on God. You don't want total salvation. You just want help at certain points. You don't pray to Him day and night in dependence on Him. You pray to Him when you are in trouble. You are your own Savior and Lord, but your goodness masks it. When your life stops working and falls apart; there is smoke all over, and you can't find the fire.
I don't know how many times I have heard people say, "I've tried Christianity and God, and it didn't work." What they mean is, "I wanted something, and God didn't give it to me."
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining
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