When I was a very young child we used to keep a yellow saucer on the beach. I grew up on a lake and spent the majority of my summer cutting lawn, swimming or sailing. I have always been grateful to cool off on hot summer days. On our beach, we had a saucer that was made out of 3/4 plywood and had been cut into a 4 foot circle to cover up a tube where we kept our toys, like a toychest. After we were done playing each day, we would put everything in the large innertube and cover it up.
On calm evenings, when their wasn’t any waves on our little bay, we would pull that yellow disk behind our boat. We had a 40hp Mercury that would sling us around our little bay like an astronaut going around the moon. I sometimes wonder what the g-force actually was because you could hardly hold onto the tow rope as you got slung around the dark side of the moon.
There was only 1 inch of clearance on the front of the saucer to the water as you rode it and if the tip went under the water you were a goner. If you did, the saucer plunged immediately into the water and you would bounce on the surface 5-10 times until finally falling in. I could only ride a few times because when you were in a slingshot and fell off, your entire body hurt and would suffer. You would feel the consequences for what you did many days later.
But what is it about the human nature that causes you to get back on it again?
I remember being pounded over and over again mercilessly by the water. Many times I felt like a rock that a child skips across the water.
When I think back, the water was completely unmerciful to me. Granted,I chose to get on that saucer but the path I chose would eventually lead me to getting pounded. We choose our destiny and things that are not beneficial to us. What is it about our sinful nature that causes us to pound ourselves over and over again?
Rom 7:14-21
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Many years ago I was asked to oversee a child for a school. He was a big handful for anyone in that school. He sent me home with black eyes and almost broke my nose. I eventually taught him how to love the other children. Through all of his rebellion, I loved him as I continue to today. I always remembered that God loves us while we were yet sinners.
Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Each of us has to deal with the sinful nature. It doesn’t matter if you are a fisherman, a ruler, or even a king or president. We all make mistakes, but this is the reason why Jesus Christ came into this world. Because God is so forgiving with us, I would hope that we could be forgiving with each other. Forgiveness is a concept that is very difficult for the world to understand because it is a quality that is truly divine. We are mere humans, that truly need to understand what Jesus did for us at the cross. We are mortal, while God’s love is immortal. Jesus was pounded to a cross, not for His sins, but because of the sins of others.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God doesn’t want any of us to go to hell. That is the truth. He wants to save each and every one of us.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As Pilate, ceasar, or magistrates, we all fall short of obedience to Christ. Thank God for mercy and forgiveness because without it we would all lose our souls and salvation.
The God of all creation teaches us to be merciful and forgiving with each other. It’s very easy to go to the human nature and fight with others, but what do you choose to do? Will you choose to love others? Will you choose to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy you you?
Think about those things for today and Lord willing we will talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye eveyone💓
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