Undone

Undone

Today’s Bible Reading: JOB 38:1-40:5

Job 40:4

Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.

We all have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. It is human nature to do so. We measure ourselves against others physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and even morally. We analyze people in hopes of placing ourselves equal to, if not better than them in some way.

Job was caught in this comparison conundrum. His conversations with his friends had brought his moral virtue into question. He contended with his companions to counteract their comprehension of his character. Throughout his discussions with them he attempted to oppose their assessment of him by seeking to make himself equal or better than them. He defended his decency and devotion to God. His conclusion was that his integrity was intact and his honor held.

Like Job, when we compare ourselves with our peers, we might be able to vindicate our innocence before them, but it is entirely different before God. In Him we can find no comparison. God appears to Job. He challenges Job to present his case of moral integrity before Him. He hoped to maintain his innocence before God. But instead of being able to argue his goodness, he is exposed to his guilt. Rather than being received as righteous, he recognizes his rebellion. Instead of vindicating himself, he realizes that he is vile. This was not what he was expecting in his encounter with God. His self-assessment was shattered in the presence of the supremacy of God. Humbled, he was silenced before his Sovereign.

We must recognize that when we believe in Jesus our sins are pardoned, but its power continues to pull us toward sin. As long as we live, we will struggle with sin. Job was a man in his day who was "blameless, upright, feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1), but yet in the presence of God he declared himself to be vile. David in his day was a man after God’s own heart, yet when confronted by God’s prophet he declares to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” (Ps 51:4). Isaiah in his day was a prophet of God, but in the presence of God’s throne room, he cries out “Woe is me! I am lost: for I am a man of unclean lips.” (Is 6:5). And consider Paul who in his day was one of the greatest religious teachers of his time, yet when presented with God’s word, he declares “Wretched man that I am!” (Rom 7:24).

We must, like all of these Godly men realize that we are saints undone. We must recognize that sin still has a tremendous tug upon us. We must not constantly assess our condition by comparing ourselves to others, but by the appraisal of the Almighty. We are sinners saved by grace. Sin is not eradicated but it can be evaded. As we daily enter into God’s presence in prayer and are renewed by reading His Word we see who we are and we are armed for the struggle ahead. Like Job, we must recognize our vileness before God and realize that our victory is in Him.

Today affirm that you live in the reality that you are vile and victorious. That as a follower of Jesus you are no longer under the dominion of sin, but that sin still dominates a large portion of your struggle for sanctification. Humbly come into God’s presence and profess your vile condition and plead with God to change you. Hold to His promise in James 4:6 that He “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Rely on His grace.