“Man is a suicide – he has destroyed himself; a homicide – his influence destroys others; a deicide (a god killer) – he would, were it in his power, annihilate the very being of God. What a proof of this have we in the crucifixion of the Son of God! When God brought himself as near to man as Infinity could approach, he exclaimed, ‘This is the Heir; come, let us kill him!’ and they proceeded to consummate the crime by nailing him to the tree.” -Octavius Winslow, No Condemnation in Christ Jesus (Banner of Truth: 1853/1991)
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Eph 2:1-2
It amazes me how difficult it is for some people to embrace the truth about themselves as revealed in the scriptures. Many people often say that the world doesn’t need to hear from preachers that they are sinners; that they need to hear about God’s love and mercy and His free grace or they will be driven away. I understand the thought behind this but only to a certain point.
If you would have listened to Jesus preach the sermon on the mount and many other sermons, you would have walked away with a complete revelation that you are a sinner in need of a savior. Who can look and not lust...be angry and not sin, speak and not say something damnable? Who can be perfect as the father is perfect? Who can love their enemies, give everything away to the poor...on and on Jesus rose the bar of righteousness. His teaching exposes the sinfulness of man like the powerful rays of the sun exposes every shadow. Forget the light of moses law...the law of Christ incinerates all hope of anyone to save himself. Christ is the Light and the revelation of His holiness and truth exposes our hearts to be the dead corpses they are. Apart from Him we can truly do NOTHING!
Left to ourselves, “Man is a suicide” as Octavious so powerfully points out. Maybe if you were raised in some good homes, were a average kid, had a comfy life and didn’t get exposed to much of the hellish hounds of depravity that roam free in most unguarded families...then maybe you wrestle with the diagnosis of scripture.
But for the barbarian...it isn’t so.
We know we were dead in sin. Putrid in our lusts, vengeful and seething with wrath towards goodness and things holy. We understand the prescription of death given by God for our situations. We understand judgment...it’s grace we don’t understand. Justice we can talk about, it’s mercy that eludes us.
Fallen angels we know...redeemed ones are a mystery to us. Broken wings we can understand, it’s the mended ones in flight that capture our groveling hearts.
One can not fully understand the remedy unless he understands the disease. That is the point of these posts on “My obligation to the Barbarians”. I hope as I delve into it more you can begin to see and understand the heart of darkness better and will see the glory of light and all it’s redemptive power even better.
3 comments:
I have to say that of all the posts you have put on your blog, these are the most penetrating. Would that I knew no one captured by the evil grip of drugs, suicide, hate, compulsions and destructive mania.
But truthfully, I have sipped from it and am involved with those still in the grip. These posts are haunting, sobering and real, too real.
I'm glad God has called you to reach out to them. Frankly, these demons are so hideous that I have great difficulty getting past the outward appearance and attitude and find my patience spent long before the attitude is forsaken in most cases. Many are called but few are chosen for this work.
God's speed,
Dad
This post is absolutely beautiful!
Great ideas but still no credibility with the cowbell...
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