I’m a glutton for punishment. That’s all there is to it. I take too much on, thinking it’s no big deal. I calculate the process in my mind of getting things done, envisioning that I’m able to come out without even a glistening of sweat on my brow. Yeah. Right. Take, for instance, what’s currently on my plate: I’m a first-time homeschooler for a 3rd grader and 1st grader, I attempt to occupy / teach my three-year-old, don’t forget that I’m a blogger extraordinaire, I’m also in charge of housekeeping (cooking, cleaning, and shopping), I’m responsible for a very energetic dog, and did I mention we’re preparing for a cross-country move that’s to happen before winter sets in for Alaska? No sweat! Yeah. Right.
Part of preparing to move has also included some upgrades for our home. Building a new deck, landscaping, remodeling a bathroom, new kitchen counters, tile work… it’s been fun – and mostly done by my husband. I’ve been out a dishwasher since February so everything is hand-washed (by yours truly). The bathroom that’s being updated has been in process since June, and it’s also the bathroom that holds the washer and dryer. Guess who’s been making trips to the laundry-mat? I will say that I actually don’t mind going to the laundry-mat. I’m able to get a week’s worth of of laundry done in about two hours – plus, I go sans kiddos and am able to get some reading and writing done (now it’s lesson planning). Needless to say, with all that’s going on, I’ve found myself a bit stretched.
Ever notice how some people will get to the very end of themselves before they acknowledge their need for help? And then there are people who acknowledge the need, but they still delay on asking for help. I’m not writing today about pride, but keep it in the back of your mind – it’s all linked together with what I have been thinking about: self-righteousness.
It’s a flaw I’ve seen in myself, becoming more and more prominent as I get older (and wiser). I’ve recognized that I don’t trust things will be done right if they’re not done by me, the way I would do them. Obviously, delegating is not a strength. If my name is on it, I want to know that I know -that I know – that it is done right. This means that I haven’t been real motivated to have the dishes washed, dried, and put away by anyone (if they’re not completely dry, bacteria will grow and we’ll all get sick!). I’m really not a germaphobe, but there’s common sense and then there’s stupidity. I’m also guilty of refolding the laundry that’s not folded correctly – especially the towels. Whichever chore or task it is, I am the only one who does it correctly. If it’s not by my process, it’s being done wrong. Notice how ridiculous this all is? My way of doing things is not the end-all, perfect way of doing things. Just don’t tell my husband.
How often do we focus on our own abilities? I just spilled a few ways that I focus on mine (yes, there’s more). Ever notice how we’re often encouraged to focus on our own abilities? It’s the very definition of how the world works from a very mortal standpoint. Think of cause and effect. You do good, you get good. If you break the law, there are certain consequences that follow. Pulled from Matthew 26:52: If you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword. What goes around, comes around. This makes perfect sense to me – completely logical! But I am also a mere mortal.
“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Psalm 18:30 (NJKV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV)
This tells me that God is perfect, we are not. Why, then, are we bombarded with the “have-to-do” of religion? We’re convicted of our need for a Savior – we can never work out our own salvation – but as soon as we’re saved, we need to do in order to keep it. I’m not promoting sin – I’m opposing self-righteousness.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6 abridged (NIV)
Picture Mother Teresa… She became a nun and teacher, heard God tell her to work in the slums of Calcutta – where the city’s poorest and sickest people lived. She obeyed and spent less than a year getting medical training before setting out. While there, she was able to accomplish a number of things: opened a school, a home for the dying destitute, an orphanage, a leper colony, a nursing home, and multiple health clinics (some mobile). She also ministered to Christian and Muslim children in Beirut, and opened a home in New York to care for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Picture Adolf Hitler… When he was eight years old, he sang in the church choir and even considered becoming a priest. He was so drastically impacted by the death of a sibling that he reconsidered a life of priesthood and started focusing on making a life as an artist. He studied art in Vienna after his father passed away and had a promising future in architecture, but was rejected for not having finished secondary school. After his mother passed, he soon ran out of money and found himself homeless on the streets of Vienna. He returned to Germany when he inherited his father’s estate. Even though he was conscripted, he was deemed unfit for military service. Later, however, a clerical error was made and he was able to enlist voluntarily to serve in World War I. After his discharge from the military in 1920, the political arena was his life. In 1934, he became Germany’s Head of State… and the horrors that followed over the next eleven years will forever haunt us.
Mother Teresa did not go to Heaven based on her good deeds just like Adolf Hitler did not go to Hell based on his atrocities (from his hand or his command). I’ll say it again if you like… but not many want to swallow the news that Adolf Hitler may have had a come-to-Jesus before he killed himself. The world would automatically assume that Mother Teresa, especially after her canonization, that she’s in Heaven. Based off of Adolf Hitler’s gravely immoral actions and subsequent suicide, we would assume he’s paying for his choices in Hell.
Then there’s Jesus…
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-3 (NIV)
I’m not in any way stating that what Hitler did was okay, but sin is sin is sin. Hating someone is the same as murdering them according to God and His perfect ways. I’m not excusing sin. A pastor that I have learned a great deal from made a comment about sin (not an original quote – many pastors use it):
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” ~Andrew Wommack
Sin hurts! Sin hurts us, it hurts those around us, and it can hurt even those we have never met. Just ask Adam. Sin hurt the entire world! Romans 5:12-21 backs that up (be sure to read it) and brings me to my final thoughts for this post (not the topic – I could go on for a long time!).
There are many who jump to the conclusion that grace gives people license to sin. I’m sorry, but no one needs a license; we all fall short (both Mother Teresa and Adolf Hitler). But sin is not an issue between mankind and God. If sin is an issue between mankind and God, pardon my language, but what the heck did Jesus accomplish on the cross? When we so intently focus on our deeds, both good and bad, we aren’t focusing on Jesus. When we aren’t focusing on Jesus, we’re doing, doing, doing in our own strength. As soon as we look away from Jesus, we’re operating in our own abilities and tend to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. As mentioned before with the Isaiah passage, our absolute best “job well done” is unclean and the equivalent of filthy rags (other translation: menstrual rags).
As I write this and read through it, rereading and editing, I can’t help but get excited! Regardless of the eternal destinations of Mother Teresa and Adolf Hitler, I’m excited that the sins of the whole world have been taking care of. Instead of presenting to God the good things I’ve done in this life – the filthiest rags to be seen – I get to stand before God and point to Jesus. He’s my salvation, He’s my righteousness, He’s the Righteous One… and He’s the One who spread His arms out wide because I could never stretch that far.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV)