Living in Charlotte right now feels like living in a world of utter helplessness. Constantly frustrated because I cannot do the things that I want to, I feel helpless to live my life in the way that makes sense to me. This illustration breaks down to a certain degree about what a Biblical truth, but bear with me.
I can’t talk on the cell phone without being in just the right spot, hold my head in a certain way, or feel like I have to drive to Target to have an uninterrupted call. I love my animals, but we decided to have them only live downstairs to protect the wood floors upstairs, so we put the invisible fence under the stairs, and now that I live here I am finding that I stay upstairs most of the day, thus I never see my dogs. That makes me feel like a part of my enjoyment of life is gone. I can’t, I am absolutely helpless to get the brand new printer to work on my computer, the wireless feature won’t work, the CD installer is no help, and it won’t even print while my computer is plugged into it. I have to email Ken whatever I want to print so that he can print it from his laptop. The cable company came to install the wireless router for our computers, and it only works in one room! That means I can’t get on line in my bedroom, I have to sit on the stairs in the hall in order to get online, except if I am in Ken’s office. I can’t get online downstairs, unless I hold the computer in the air! The most frustrating thing about it is that I am helpless to change any of this. I have no “router expertise, printer prowess, invisible fence experience, or phone skill. I am helpless! I either have to wait for Ken to come home (he’s out of town till Wednesday), call each company that takes care of each area, or go to the Lake House and “pretend” that none of these problems really exist. I have come up against a mighty brick wall, and am oozing with frustration due to my utter helplessness to change any of it.
As I was pondering this, at 4 am-that’s how frustrated I am, it dawned on me that the Law of God serves this same purpose in our lives as human beings. Reading Michael Horton’s book (review below) has stimulated me to ponder the Law and Gospel. The Law serves as a brick wall that we as humans ram our heads against realizing our utter helplessness to do anything completely right that it commands. It’s a reflection of God’s character, a character that I can never achieve on my own apart from Christ.
Horton on page 136-137 says:
“The covenant of law sworn by Israel at Mount Sinai was not, ‘We will try really hard to have our best life now,’ (as quoted from Joel Osteen) but, ‘All this we will do.’ To confirm their oath, Moses splashed blood on the people, visually ratifying their commitment to personally and perfectly fulfill the terms of the covenant. It is no wonder that the Israelites, terrified by God’s commanding voice, begged Moses to be their mediator. Yet when Moses was absent from the congregation, receiving this law from God on the mountain, the people decided to construct a more user-friendly representation of God-the golden calf-which, instead of inspiring awe and fear, encouraged them to a lighter form of worship: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.’ (Exodus 32:6)
“If God’s voice of law does not de-center us, throw us off balance, and judge our best efforts as having fallen short of God’s glory, we will never flee to Christ as our Mediator greater than Moses. Instead we will come up with our own representations of God-the golden calves of our own forms of worship-gentle suggestions for life, and helpful advice that lulls us into thinking at last we have a friendly God who does not provoke the cry, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (Luke 18:13).
Now there are definitely differences between my silly earthly illustrations so don’t take it completely literally, but I can tell you this, my frustration is palpable. Just as when I “try harder” to fulfill the Laws commands I too run into this mighty frustration! I cannot fulfill it. I am absolutely helpless. My only recourse is to fall down on my knees and cry out as the tax collector did, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
As I was pondering this, at 4 am-that’s how frustrated I am, it dawned on me that the Law of God serves this same purpose in our lives as human beings. Reading Michael Horton’s book (review below) has stimulated me to ponder the Law and Gospel. The Law serves as a brick wall that we as humans ram our heads against realizing our utter helplessness to do anything completely right that it commands. It’s a reflection of God’s character, a character that I can never achieve on my own apart from Christ.
Horton on page 136-137 says:
“The covenant of law sworn by Israel at Mount Sinai was not, ‘We will try really hard to have our best life now,’ (as quoted from Joel Osteen) but, ‘All this we will do.’ To confirm their oath, Moses splashed blood on the people, visually ratifying their commitment to personally and perfectly fulfill the terms of the covenant. It is no wonder that the Israelites, terrified by God’s commanding voice, begged Moses to be their mediator. Yet when Moses was absent from the congregation, receiving this law from God on the mountain, the people decided to construct a more user-friendly representation of God-the golden calf-which, instead of inspiring awe and fear, encouraged them to a lighter form of worship: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.’ (Exodus 32:6)
“If God’s voice of law does not de-center us, throw us off balance, and judge our best efforts as having fallen short of God’s glory, we will never flee to Christ as our Mediator greater than Moses. Instead we will come up with our own representations of God-the golden calves of our own forms of worship-gentle suggestions for life, and helpful advice that lulls us into thinking at last we have a friendly God who does not provoke the cry, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (Luke 18:13).
Now there are definitely differences between my silly earthly illustrations so don’t take it completely literally, but I can tell you this, my frustration is palpable. Just as when I “try harder” to fulfill the Laws commands I too run into this mighty frustration! I cannot fulfill it. I am absolutely helpless. My only recourse is to fall down on my knees and cry out as the tax collector did, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
2 comments:
Ack, sorry for your frustrations, but glad you can see God in them! Love you much and always - B.
I really needed to read this tonight. Thanks.
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