Friday, May 21, 2010

It has been happening since almost the beginning of time. And no, it's not the procrastination that has kept me from posting, that's just me. No, it's that pesky little thing attached to our hands. You know that finger, the one that's next to the thumb? Adam was the first human to use that finger. And he made sure that it didn't point to himself. Was he right? Was it Eve's fault? Sure. But was he blameless? Absolutely not. Yet that reaction of his seemed to catch on like a virus. And all of humanity is eaten up with it. Blame.
In dealing with children, you have to be careful how you approach them. At the youngest of ages, they will quickly point their fingers to someone (anyone) else. 'Not me!' seems to be their favorite answer. Unless it's, 'They started it!' If you don't think that adults will pull out those excuses, imagine your next staff meeting when your bosses are trying to figure out who is responsible for wrong behaviour. I am no theologian but I would be willing to bet that this habit is wrapped up in that ugly thing called human nature. You could search for a thousand years and never find any part of God in human nature. We are born in sin and live with these habits to our dying days.
So what's with all the bad news? Just because God can't be found in our failings, doesn't mean He can't be found. He makes Himself available. If you don't agree, just cry out right now. Call to Him in your heart. He will answer. In His time and in His way, but be assured He will answer. How do I know? Let me take you back about 25 years. Oh, my heavens, I feel old! My brother, sister & I were in Bible College. Richard was the only one of us with a car. He had bought it just about a year and a half before. It was used, but we loved it. It meant everything a car can when you are college age. Freedom and independence. Even if it belonged to your brother. Then it happened. Lisa wrecked our brother's first car. Now we three siblings had lost our freedom and independence.
Lisa had a hard road to walk. She was at fault not the other driver. She was responsible. She actually felt that forgiveness was not available to her because the wreck was her fault. If you have accepted forgiveness from Jesus Christ, you know the truth. He shared that with Lisa. As she was crying out in her prayers, she felt the Lord telling her that the fact that it was her fault had nothing to do with forgiveness. While the consequences of the wreck did not go away, God is always ready to forgive.
He does not point fingers. He didn't when He was on trial, and He doesn't now. He didn't when He was being executed, and He doesn't now. He didn't when He reunited with those who betrayed Him, and He doesn't now. Your mistake, no matter how small or how horrific, can be forgiven. You may have to walk out the consequences, but you can walk forgiven by the Saviour of your soul. So look to the only One who isn't pointing His finger at you.