NoelHeikkinen.com

I am the problem

Nov 28, 2007 Print This Post

.:mood:. Sinful
.:itunes:. Tell Me ‘Bout It (Live from the Bowery Ballroom) by Joss Stone

Thanks to Darryl for these two quotes:

“I cannot pray but I sin. I cannot preach to you or any others but I sin. I can do nothing without sin; and, as one expresses it, my repentance wants to be repented of, and my tears to be washed in the precious blood of my dear Redeemer. Our best duties are as so many splendid sins.”
- George Whitefield

…The Times in London invited several eminent authors to write essays on the theme “What’s Wrong with the World?” Chesterton’s contribution took the form of a letter, and was probably the shortest and most accurate reply they received. What’s wrong with the world?

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton

This struck me so much because this week I was challenged for something I said last weekend during my sermon. I mentioned that I was sad that there are at least 300,000 people in the Greater Lansing area that don’t know Jesus. Here’s part of the note she sent:

Who are you to denegrate one of God’s pathways?

Buddhists are worthy.

Christians are worthy.

Jews are worthy.

Muslims are worthy.

Hindus are worthy.

Sikhs are worthy.

Here’s part of my response to her:

The bottom line is that I believe Jesus’ message is true. And part of that message was (in his words): “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” He also said “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

If I am going to be consistent in following Jesus’ message I have to believe that he is the only way. There is no other way to be consistent with his life and message.

The reason I am sad? Because I believe no one else is coming to rescue us. Jesus is the only one coming and it saddens me when people don’t see that because I love the people around me so much.

Something else in your blog post made me think that you love people in the same way: The statement that “Buddhists are worthy…Christians are worthy…Jews are worthy…Muslims are worthy…Hindus are worthy…Sikhs are worthy…” obviously shows your love and care for all people which is awesome.

At the same time, I want to add Paul’s words (in the book of Romans in the Bible). He says this: “No one is righteous—not even one.” In other words, none of us is worthy. Jesus died on the cross to give us the righteousness that we cannot have apart from him.

It’s good for me to constantly remember that I am not worthy.

Jesus did it all.

He paid it all.

I am what is wrong with the world.