Getting the Log out of Our Eyes
As Christians we love to point our fingers at the wicked ways of the world. We amen the destruction of the drunkard; we applaud the announcement of God’s accusations of the abominable; we proclaim the woes to the wicked; and stand in horror of the homosexual. Yet all the while, we have sin in our camp. We don’t mind focusing on the world’s shortcomings and sins, yet, we get angry if anyone dare proclaim that we are sinful. Yet the Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and again it says in Isaiah 53:6, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” The Bible is even so bold as to tell us that if we say we have no sin, we are liars, and we make God out to be a liar. (I John 1:8, 10).
I have seen picketers with rage in their eyes holding signs proclaiming “God Hates Fags” and preachers proclaiming the horrors of hell with smiles on their faces. We self righteously judge the world and proclaim God’s condemnation upon the wicked, not realizing the hate in our hearts is standing in direct contradiction to a loving God. We say they deserve hell and condemnation for their sins while failing to remember who or where we would be apart from the grace of God. The fact is that they do deserve the eternal condemnations of hell; yet, at the same time, we do too. Lest we forget, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Without a doubt John 3:16 is one of the most memorized and quoted verse in all of scripture. However, we so often fail to remember what Jesus continued to say in the next verse, John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” If the sinner refuses to repent in this life and give His life to the Lord, he will face judgment followed by condemnation. The scriptures are clear on this fact. However, Jesus didn’t come into this world to condemn; He came to save! If we are to have the mind of Christ, our hearts should not be focused toward the condemnation of this world; it should be focused on the salvation of this world. To wish for condemnation upon anyone stands in direct contradiction to God and is, therefore, sinful. Yes, the unrepentant will be judged! Yet, II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” I’m not saying we should not preach against sin nor stand up against immorality. We should! However, we should do it with the desired result of repentance and not condemnation.
What’s even worse than the Christian who hates the sinner is the Sunday morning pew warmer that could care less. They are cold in their hearts toward the salvation of the world, not caring if the country of China comes to Christ, much less their own community-at least not enough to stand up and do anything about it. They fail to come to the realization that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords came down from the glories of heaven not only to shed His precious blood for their personal souls but for the souls of the whole world. “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Before we can ever be of any use to the Kingdom of God, we must first get the log of self-righteousness and stagnation out of our own eyes. We must understand that our self-righteous and self serving attitudes have harmed the Kingdom of God much more than it has helped. We must repent. Reclaiming the Land: God's Formula for Revival
I have seen picketers with rage in their eyes holding signs proclaiming “God Hates Fags” and preachers proclaiming the horrors of hell with smiles on their faces. We self righteously judge the world and proclaim God’s condemnation upon the wicked, not realizing the hate in our hearts is standing in direct contradiction to a loving God. We say they deserve hell and condemnation for their sins while failing to remember who or where we would be apart from the grace of God. The fact is that they do deserve the eternal condemnations of hell; yet, at the same time, we do too. Lest we forget, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Without a doubt John 3:16 is one of the most memorized and quoted verse in all of scripture. However, we so often fail to remember what Jesus continued to say in the next verse, John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” If the sinner refuses to repent in this life and give His life to the Lord, he will face judgment followed by condemnation. The scriptures are clear on this fact. However, Jesus didn’t come into this world to condemn; He came to save! If we are to have the mind of Christ, our hearts should not be focused toward the condemnation of this world; it should be focused on the salvation of this world. To wish for condemnation upon anyone stands in direct contradiction to God and is, therefore, sinful. Yes, the unrepentant will be judged! Yet, II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” I’m not saying we should not preach against sin nor stand up against immorality. We should! However, we should do it with the desired result of repentance and not condemnation.
What’s even worse than the Christian who hates the sinner is the Sunday morning pew warmer that could care less. They are cold in their hearts toward the salvation of the world, not caring if the country of China comes to Christ, much less their own community-at least not enough to stand up and do anything about it. They fail to come to the realization that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords came down from the glories of heaven not only to shed His precious blood for their personal souls but for the souls of the whole world. “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Before we can ever be of any use to the Kingdom of God, we must first get the log of self-righteousness and stagnation out of our own eyes. We must understand that our self-righteous and self serving attitudes have harmed the Kingdom of God much more than it has helped. We must repent. Reclaiming the Land: God's Formula for Revival
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