What a Shock, Josh Duggar is a Wretched Sinner...

Josh Duggar is a filthy wretched sinner!  There I said it,  What's new, other than we all thought he was a pretty nice guy.   It's crazy how the media makes it seem like he was the only client of  Ashley Madison, they are like piranhas with a drop of blood in the water.   Slowly the truth is relieved, yes Josh has been unfaithful to his wife.   Yes, he is a filthy wretched individual, yes he deserves to go to Hell and suffer eternal torment for his actions.   That is the facts.   It could get much worse for Josh, I'm sure, but does it matter at this point?   What more can the court of public opinion do to Josh?

When we pan out from the tree and look at the forest, we see something even more disturbing.  Josh wasn't the only client of Ashley Madison, actually he was one of 37 million.  That's a lot of people on a website that is specifically designed for people to cheat.   Yes, this was Adultery Central for several countries, which only started in 2001.   Now I know people have been committing adultery for centuries, actually even back when Joseph was a slave in Egypt he was solicited.   Nothing new here.

Funny thing is, when people are asked about the ten commandments, those laws given to Moses by God, there was a line item about just this issue... "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14.   Yes, Josh broke this along with 37 million people, but it doesn't stop there...

Jesus said:

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."  - Mattew 5:27-30

Wow...  now Josh can be lumped in with a bunch of people... most red blooded men have actually done this, even if they didn't actually physically commit the act.   It's the condition of the heart!   

Now one thing for Josh is, well he hasn't murdered anyone...  Well hold your horses there...  Jesus also said:
"21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." -Matthew 5:21-22

So if you call a person a fool (even if you just think it and don't say it) you've committed murder in your heart!  Wow...  We just went from 1 to 37 million to the whole world and all of history.   Guess what, we are all bad people, we are all terrible wretched sinners, we all deserve Hell.  Is there anything we can do to save ourselves, the Bible is clear on that one also, there is nothing we can do in ourselves.

But the Gospel... how about that?   How about it?   Does Josh deserve the gospel?  Do those 37 Million cheaters deserve the Gospel?   Does anyone deserve the gospel... No!   We don't deserve it.   That's the point, the Gospel is all about grace.   Many people think it's about "turning over a new leaf", but there is nothing you can do to make yourself right before God.   So what is the Gospel?   Come back tomorrow and we will discuss this one!   Until then stew in the thought that Josh Duggar and Me aren't a whole lot different.  Actually... we are all a whole lot alike deep down inside.   We are all sinners and we all deserve Hell!
  

My Hope is in the Lord

I woke up this morning with a simple tune in my head,  but a profound thought:

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.




[chorus]
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives.

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus’ righteousness

[chorus]
 And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own.

[chorus]

His grace has planned it all
‘Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.


[chorus]

Sometimes we need to be reminded that our own efforts have no bearing in our eternal life.   Yes, it's not what we do or did, but what Christ did for us - For Me, He Died For Me He Lives, what a glorious promise.   My striving in this world needs to be not for me, not to please God, but simply a reflection of that fact He's actually done it all, and I'm simply the tool for his Glory.    Jesus paid the price of my sin at Calvary, I am debt free with God on Jesus behalf.  How glorious.

A few years ago we were having problems with our car, the transmission had gone, and now other things were going bad.   Our son at the time was having a lot of medical issues, and we needed a reliable vehicle.   One Saturday we received a phone call from a car dealership who asked us to come down and pick up a car that someone had purchased for us...  We were shocked, someone knew our need,  Yes God knew our needs.   When we arrived at the dealership I was expecting to get a used run-down car, but was so happy to get that, it was going to be a blessing if it ran.   The sales manager sat us down in his office and told us that he had never had anything like this before, a couple had purchased a car in our name, simply given the dealership a blank check.   They were to remain anonymous, but the vehicle was paid in full and ours to take.   He told us that they had selected a few vehicles for us to choose from, my expectations were some old cars, but still so thankful.
As we walked out of the dealership office, the sales manager was leading us to the 'New Car' lot, not the used car lot...  There must have been a mistake,  I'm worthy of a used car, but not of a new car.   He pointed us to the most expensive cars on the lot, A Suburban, a Tahoe and an Equinox, fully loaded with all the bells and whistles.    This is a mistake, I'm not worthy of these cars, but the sales manager assured me, there was no mistake.  This was a limited and low demonstration of Gods Grace.

Jesus Gave it all, he Gave his life, For Me!   I should be placed under the wrath of God, my penalty is much to great.   I've violated His law over and over again, without even thinking about it.  How many times have I not placed Him first in my mind, how many times have I used His Name carelessly, How many times have I created idols things that I place in value over God,  How many times have I not honoured Him in a time of rest.    I am a child of wrath among a people of wrath, I deserve nothing.  

My hope is in the Lord, He Gave Himself for Me and paid the debt of all my sin on Calvary.   What a blessing it is not to pay a monthly car payment, but more than that, what a blessing it is not to pay penitence for my violations of God's law.  The books have been settled, not just for now, but eternally.

So what is my response?   What should I do?  I don't have to do anything, it's Done!   The funny thing is...  I want to do anything for Him,  I'll mop the bathroom at church,  I'll help people in need.   I'm like a homeless person who gets a life saving meal, I don't just eat, I go and tell my friends and family,  I drag people in because I know they need it also, I write about it, I sing about it, I live it each and every day! I'm willing to give it all away for Him because my hope isn't on Me... My Hope is in the Lord.


Soli Deo Gloria