The Danger of Looking Around

We run into danger when we look around. Why is that?

I think of Luke 18 when we read of two men who came to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee was part of the elite ruling class. He was a religious leader. He was wealthy. He had it together. When he prayed he said, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector."

We read that the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even raise his head. He beat himself on the chest and said "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Jesus tells us that it is the tax collector who went home justified.

How easy we can run into the same trap as the Pharisee! Part of his problem was the fact that he was busy looking around---and pointing out all the people he thought were worse than he was!

It's always easy to point out people and say, "I'm not as bad as this person!"

Jesus does not accept this.

Here's the revolution.

The tax collector---who was the most reviled of all people, who earned money through a very immoral, and evil manner---he was justified. He knew that he was a sinner. He knew that his life was evil. He came humbly before God and pleaded for mercy.

This is the position we all need to take. We all are equal in sin. God gives grace the humble and resists the proud.

Don't look around. Don't compare yourself to others. You may find yourself feeling too highly of who you are. Or you may find the opposite. You may look around at all those other Christians who seem to have it more together than you.

They don't! They're struggling just like you and just like me!

Let us, instead, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus; the Author and Finisher of our faith. He endured the cross for you and for me. It doesn't matter how bad you think your sin is; Jesus finished it all on the cross. You can be forgiven. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Your fellow revolutionary,
-Jason Vreeke