The other night, I was on Brainy Quote looking at some of my favorite Charles Spurgeon quotes. I came across a quote from that I had never even read before, but it is one that I will never forget:
“‘You are no saint,’ says the devil. Well if I am not, I am a sinner, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Sink or Swim, I go to Him; other hope, I have none.”
I know on this blog, and perhaps in my sermons, I quote Charles Spurgeon often. I don’t do it because he is just full of wise sayings, I do it because what he says hits me in the gut and I hope it does the same to you. I know it sounds cheesy, but what he said hit me square in the gut.
You know, as Christians, don’t we sometimes get away with judging people? I know I have judged people. Honestly, I sometimes think to myself, “My oh my, is that person even a saint? I am so glad I am not like that person.” I know we have all had those kind of moments – moments of arrogant pride, moments of useless comparison that does not benefit the Kingdom in any way. But when we think like that, we become like the devil. The devil says “you are no saint.”
In Zechariah 3, we read of a vision in which Joshua (the High Priest) is standing before the angel of the LORD and Satan is accusing him of all wrongdoings. There are many instances throughout scripture in which Satan is seen as the accuser. He accuses people of their wrongdoings and he attempts to get God to stop loving them.
But can we be real for a moment?? Isn’t ‘Joshua’ all of us? Aren’t we all the ones trying to fight this battle against Satan?
Sometimes, we make ourselves the accuser. We become the ones trying to find the faults in others.
Listen, let’s get personal. I can’t judge you. Brothers and Sisters cannot judge you. But you can’t judge others. You have no right, I have no right, no one has that right except for the one who reigns in Heaven.
Brothers and Sisters, we need to stop judging one another. If someone is living their life in sin, instead of being the pharisees that like to accuse (cf. John 8:1-11), let us be the light that likes to guide. Let’s show others the kindness and love that Jesus showed to the tax collectors, the prostitutes, and the unclean.
I am a sinner and good thing Jesus died to save people like me. I am not a perfect saint. If I didn’t have Christ as my advocate, I guarantee eternal life would be beyond my reach. Jesus Christ is your advocate too.
If you are sinking or swimming, Jesus is right there in the water with you. The devil likes to tell you that you will never make it to the shore, but Jesus is the one that will put his arm into the water and pull you onto the life-boat. We were all sinking in our sins, but Christ is the one who pull us out of the water to breathe the air of eternal life.
I hope you have a great week and please smile.
Gospel Traveler 