Reality Check: Deserve What?

In frequent conversations with friends the word "deserve" seems to come up quite regularly, and more times than not, the context in which the word is shared rubs me the wrong way. We like to talk about what we deserve, so I figured what the heck, I'll join in on the conversation.

We are quick to pass judgement on the drug dealer found out by the cops who gets prosecuted and what he deserves, not to mention the child-molester living in some hole in the wall who is tried and convicted. We applaud when the corrupt banker is tracked down on some island retreat sipping on margaritas and is hauled back to the country to be brought to justice. And we pat ourselves on the back by pointing out the guy we know who beat his wife this past year.

But when do we take account of our own sins, you know, the stuff we've done of late that turns God's stomach? When do we put our finger away and fall to our knees and ask God to have mercy on those the world condemns and to please somehow have the same kind of mercy on us? When do we stop and realize we deserve nothing better than hell but have been given a full life in Jesus?

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." ~Luke 18:9-14, ESV

You see, despite all of our self-righteousness we are no better than the worst of those deemed despicable—we have been forgiven for our own pile of sins. How often we see our neighbor (or even someone closer to close us) do something as deplorable as cheat on their spouse and think, Thank you God that I am not like so and so.

It's spiritual smugness to assume we deserve anything let alone God's love, and I am convinced that we can't truly love others or appreciate life until we understand just what it is we really deserve.

Living by the Law--Dying by the Law

The differences between law dominated living and a grace saturated life couldn't be starker--they are as night and day, oil and water, and back and white.

We sing, and sing rightly too—

"My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law,"

for from the law death cometh and not life, misery and not comfort. "To convince and to condemn is all the law can do." O, when will all professors, and especially all professed ministers of Christ, learn the difference between the law and the gospel? Most of them make a mingle-mangle, and serve out deadly potions to the people, often containing but one ounce of gospel to a pound of law, whereas, but even a grain of law is enough to spoil the whole thing. It must be gospel, and gospel only. "If it be of grace, it is not of works, otherwise grace is no more grace; and if it be of works, then it is not of grace, otherwise work is no more work. ~Charles H. Spurgeon, September 20th, 1863 (at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington)

The Value of My Life

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ~Paul the Apostle (Acts 20:24, ESV)

If only I can say the same.

The Gospel of Great Grace

Now herein lies the grand peculiarity of the Gospel. It pronounces the utter insignificance of all that man can do for the establishment of his right to the Kingdom of Heaven; and yet, he must somehow or other be provided with such a right ere that he can find admittance there. Ah, grace. Great grace. ~Thomas Chalmers

HT: George Grant