17 August 2015 - lifeboat

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge
and save them from the power of their enemies
as long as the judge lived;

But it is not enough to ask the judges about what is good. We might want to ask them, "what good must I do to gain eternal life?" They would in turn tell us how to avoid serving Baals and abandoning the LORD. This is a good start but it is not a long term solution. The judges remind us, "There is only One who is good."

But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,
following other gods in service and worship,
relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

The judges can help us with our external conduct. But they can't transform us from within. The can remind us of the law.

You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

They cannot write that law in our hearts. When the law is written merely on stone and not written on flesh it kills rather than giving life (cf. 2 Cor. 3:6). If the law doesn't change us within we risk the same relapse that the children of Israel fall into again and again.

What is the secret then? Where is the good of God alone who can truly change us from within?

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”

If we follow Jesus we find the one who is good. We discover the power that changes us from the inside out. We make real progress rather the backsliding whenever we aren't being watched. We see God remember his promise to put his law within us and to write it on our hearts (cf. Jer. 31:33).

Let us hear Jesus say, "come, follow me". Let's not just stand here idle. Let's take the first step and see where he leads us. What we see is God regarding our cries, hearing us, and remembering us. This is his rescue operation. Jesus himself is the lifeboat. We can stay here sinking or we can get on board.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (cf. Rom. 8:6).