Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Man can neither accuse God nor
lay the blame for his sin at the feet of the Lord. For the
Lord is above the reproach of men, and it is impossible that
he could ever be called into question. The scripture plainly
says, let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with
evil, neither tempteth he any man. Sin begins in the corrupt
heart of men, as James goes on to say. But every man is tempted
when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. And sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death. We must face the fact that our
sin is our sin. We have invited destruction to
visit us and it has obliged. We are not innocent bystanders
being acted upon by a desire that is not our own. We have
surveyed the wicked desires of our heart and we have embraced
them time and again. Is it any wonder that the Lord
said, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself? The man who has not
been quickened by the Spirit does not see the wickedness of
his sin, nor can he in any wise realize the utter destruction
that attends it. But this in no wise excuses him
from it. He sees his errors as commonplace,
which indeed they are, and since this imperfection is shared by
all of mankind, he takes some measure of comfort as he compares
himself to other men. He considers himself righteous
because his evil deeds appear righteous when compared to the
dregs of society. Neither can he see his actions
as reprehensible in the sight of the Lord, because he has no
knowledge of the Lord's hatred of sin, nor can he begin to fathom
the absolute holiness of his person. Apart from the mercy
of God being visited upon him, he shall utterly perish in the
darkness of his own mind, all the while convinced that he has
some form of righteousness. When the Spirit of God quickens
a man, he finds himself stripped naked and bare before a holy
God. from whose gaze and judgment
he cannot hide. He must say with Isaiah of old,
Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and
I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For mine eyes
have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. He has no recourse
but to cast himself on the mercy of God and to cry out as the
publican, God be merciful to me a sinner. In a moment the
Lord is able to empty a man even as a bag of refuse is poured
out upon a garbage heap. His only hope is in Christ. Christ is personally acquainted
with the plight of his people. For we have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Christ is perfectly suited to
be the Savior of his elect. Though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him. Wherefore in all things it behooved
him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that
he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor
them that are tempted. Christ has faced all of the judgment
for their sin, and has triumphed over it, taking their sin upon
himself. Who being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep
have gone astray. We have turned every one to his
own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Christ shall preserve his people
faultless unto the very end. Being confident of this very
thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ. I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you
who also will do it. Is Christ your Savior? If you
would like a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at
forthepoor at windstream.net.