Monday, February 18, 2013
John 8:54-58 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
HONEST JUDGMENT
When I was in high school in physics class we always had these projects that we were supposed to be doing. Build a little bridge, build a little boat, things like that. At one point with one of the projects or reports after we got it all done and were ready to hand it in our teacher handed out these sheets and said, "Alright, you grade your project." What??? He wanted us to take our project and critically grade them ourselves?
The ability to truthfully and critically judge yourself is essential for success in the world no matter what your definition of success is or what your career is. The Word of God calls us to judge our life righteously as well. To take a serious look at our life and consider what the outcome is.
The Lord uses the example of Abraham as one who was able to correctly judge his life. Abraham rejoiced to see the day of the Lord. If he looks forward in joy to that which is to come it shows that what he has is lacking. There is something missing in his life.
More than that Abraham looks forward to a new life. Abraham looks forward to the day of the Savior. This implies not just something lacking but the complete failure of his life and the need for Christ.
It is poignant that the Lord uses Abraham. The Jewish leaders Jesus is talking to judged their lives as being "just fine", they didn't need a savior. But Jesus says Abraham the "ultimate Jew" knew his life to be failure, and instead he rejoiced to see the coming of Jesus who would complete that project for him.
We can attempt to surpass Abraham in our faith, good works, and love, or we can gladly stamp an "F" on our life and rejoice to see the day of Jesus -- who lived a perfect "A" and gives it to us.
