Our Most Fundamental Problem

Our Most Fundamental Problem

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Luke 5:18-19 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

 

Jesus is in the center of the house, and there's a paralytic.  His friends want to see him healed so they bring him to the house, but it's so crowded that they can't get in the door.  They go up to the roof and lower him down, and Jesus looks at him and says, "Your sins are forgiven."

 

He says, "Your sins are forgiven?!!"  What are his friends going to say in response to that?  "Ah, Jesus, that's not what we came for -- that's not what we ripped this person's house up for!  Ah, you know, thank you very much!  Let's have some real power!  Say, WALK!  Jesus, say WALK -- not YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!  Say WALK!  That's what we're here for!"

 

Here's what we learn from this incident.  Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven."  Maybe you think the paralysis and the immobilized limbs are the real problem, but that's not the case.  Our most fundamental problem is that we're alienated from God, and we need our sins forgiven.  We need them removed because there's a barrier between us and God that needs to be removed.  

 

I don't get Jesus' salvation by being strong and accomplished but by admitting that I'm not.  I don't get His salvation by negotiating with God but by surrendering.   No matter how defiled you are, no matter how stained you are, no matter how tainted, no matter who you are or what you've done and no matter what your record is, the minute Jesus touches you, you're fit for the presence of God.  Jesus' cleanness becomes your cleanness.

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Scientific Notation

Scientific Proof

 

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller of New York City, and the Scripture is Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
 
Keep your belief about morality and God private because the only things that we can really be sure of are the things that are scientifically proven.  But that statement can't be scientifically proven.  Therefore, on its own terms, we can't be sure of it. 
 
If you don't believe that anything in this world has a supernatural cause, that is a belief.   You've taken that by faith, and you can't prove it.  Once you've taken that by faith and your view of reality, then all of your reasoning proceeds from it.  Then you screen out things that don't fit with it.
 
People say to me all the time, "Every individual must be free to determine what is right or wrong for him or her.  Don't impose your morality on me, and don't tell me that I have to believe this or that."  That would only be the case if there is either no God, or if there is a God that does not hold you accountable for beliefs and behavior.  That may or may not be true, but the fact that we should all be free to determine what is right or wrong for us assumes a view of God that you can't prove.  How do you know that?  You don't know that and only hope that it is true.  You're betting your whole life and destiny on it, but it is a faith leap.  Once you've made that leap, then all of your reasoning proceeds from it. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining