Real Victory - 2/14/06

Ecclesiastes 11:4, "Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; those who look at every cloud will never harvest crops."

The wisdom of Solomon is timeless. I'm pretty sure that if there were television commercials in ancient Israel, this scripture would accompany a large swoosh - replacing the slogan, "Just Do It." Basically, that's what he's saying here. "Just Do It." If you wait for perfect conditions before stepping out or starting anything, you'll never even begin.

Jesus had the same viewpoint. He didn't wait for us to stop sinning for a minute before He allowed His life to be taken in our place. He didn't wait for us to earn or deserve or even show that we desired His ultimate sacrifice - He "just did it." Romans 5:8, "But God shows His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners" (emphasis mine).

In the same way, Christ does not want us to wait until we feel like we are good enough or worthy enough before coming to Him. He knows that if we do, it will never happen. Even if it did, our greatest works are not even worthy of His holiness. Isaiah 64:6, "All of us are dirty with sin. All the right things we have done are like filthy pieces of cloth." He just wants us to receive His offering of forgiveness so we can have a relationship with Him and be welcomed into His loving family.

How blessed are we that the only One throughout history with sinless blood allowed it to be spilled on our behalf - the power of it washing away all trace of sin if we just receive that gift. Then, we may come into His presence a new creature, not waiting to be good enough but welcomed by His grace and love, made as clean as newly fallen snow by the power of His love.