Man is Powerless

To Save Himself

“The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23

College students gathering in a university student center were discussing various philosophies and religions of the world.  After one student shared the claims of Christianity and the Gospel, a student responded, “The Christian Gospel is too simplistic for me and most intellectual thinkers.  I want to be able to figure things out for myself. In the long run that’s more satisfying.”

That conversation took place while I was in college many years ago. I often wonder if that individual’s “intellectual” pursuits ever led her to the realization that shopping at the Do It Yourself store never works.  No human effort in philosophy, science, politics, philanthropy, psychology or any other human endeavor has ever, or ever will, address the lost condition of the human heart.  No matter what good things we accomplish as human beings, we are ultimately powerless to address the dilemma of our own emptiness, finiteness, and bent towards evil.  History continually unveils our true condition validating Jesus’ words that “no one is good, except God alone.”

Fortunately, there’s more to the story.  It’s called the Gospel.  Those who reject the Gospel in favor of the Do It Yourself path are ignorant of both our powerless to save ourselves and the horrible consequences of that rejection.  More about that next week.

FANNING THE FLAME

Grandparents ought to understand more than anyone the futility of human effort to satisfying the deepest longings and need of the human heart.  Do your grandchildren know that good works and important but will not earn credits with God for our salvation?  Seek appropriate opportunities to share the Good News with your grandchildren.  There is no more important conversation you could have.

GRANDPAUSE: “He that is made in the image of God must know Him or be desolate.” –George MacDonald