pearliegates

Life is futile. I sound very ecclesiastical, don't I?

It is just that I was continuing in the reading of Morris's Cross of Jesus, its chapter on the cross being the answer to futility, that I did spend some time mulling over it.

God has created us in his image. He has created man and woman. He has pronounced them good.

But, the good has chosen to be bad.

Any ordinary person however, will not choose to say it so blatantly in that way. Nevertheless, in simple words, we choose to be so; by evidence that it takes so much more to do good than to do bad. What more, in this broken world, good always turn bad. Food spoils, air gets polluted, a clean house gets dirty, a fresh schoolgoing boy in the morning gets dishevelled by noon, an organised office becomes a mess in no time.

So, let's be ecclesiastical about it. Life is futile.

Isn't it then an urgent need for us to submit and cast our weaknesses to God, especially in this season of Lent: to ask for his forgiveness of our pride, selfishness, apathy, foolishness, deceit, wanton and greed? We need to admit that whatever that we do or offer to him carries no weight if it is not done in Christ.

But then again, as sinners, there is no denial that it is hard to please God or to do anything in him. In life, there lies frustrations in all we do.

What did Jesus mean when he said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."? (Matt 11:28-30)

If it is so easy and light, why are we finding it so hard to spend enough time with the Lord in prayer, in the learning of his word, in giving to the poor, in visiting the sick, in caring for the needy, in spreading his word.

It is a paradox. "Matchless paradox, even among the paradoxically couched maxims in which our Lord delights! That rest which the soul experiences when once safe under Christ’s wing makes all yokes easy, all burdens light." (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown)

Those who believe in the Lord are justified by faith. They who believe in the Lord strive with their might, will and strength to work out their salvation* in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).

Yet we tend to feel that we are just not doing enough. Why?

Sin still find its way into us - pride, selfishness, self-centeredness, hatred, apathy, envy, jealousy, greed; making it so hard to please the Lord.

We are created beings who bear the image of God; we will find no rest until we meet perfectness in him.

O God, help us.

Maeghan
Picture from http://office.microsoft.com/

* Work out your own salvation - Go on, walking by the same rule, and minding the same thing, till your salvation be completed: till, filled with love to God and man, ye walk unblamably in all his testimonies, having your fruit unto holiness, and your end everlasting life. (Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible.)