Based on Romans 2 (New King James Version)
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written. For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Pele, one of the greatest and most well-known soccer players in the world, said: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” He also shared this before: “I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, ‘Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared’”.
I like sports, but among my favorites is football (soccer). While growing up, I would always hear about Pele. Thanks to the science of video, I have been able to see the great Pele in his splendor. It was a true delight to see the wonderful things that Pele used to do, the way he would move through different defenders, and score goals from so many different directions and distances. He made it seem effortless, magical, and poetic (at least to those of us who enjoy the sport). He looked like he was dancing with the ball sometimes. He would always wind up with the ball somehow. It is wonderful to see great athletes in action!
As I cited some of his words above, he was great not just because he had a “God-given” talent for the sport, but also, he loved and worked hard at it. He was self-critical. He sacrificed himself to become the best. That is not the story with many other athletes, despite their incredible talents. Some lack discipline and never become great or well-known. Others do make it to the big time, but become absorbed by the crazy life that surrounds the celebrity life and wealth. They give in to bad influences. Many lose their great abilities because they don’t take care of themselves, taking for granted the very thing that gave them success and great wealth.
What does this have to do with today’s passage? If you truly want to be good at anything, you must subject yourself to self-examination. Things don’t just happen all by themselves. Great opportunities cease to be great opportunities if they are not cared for. Talent is useless if all the other factors are not there. You will not be able to accomplish good things, especially before the eyes of God, if you don’t truly apply yourself to what He really teaches. There is no such thing as a “pedigree” before God. Everything is based on you as a person. Nothing is gained if nothing is cared for.
And the worst thing that can happen to anyone is when they start justifying the wrong they do by leaning on their own subjective judgment. The Bible teaches this: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7. We learn to do what is right by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives through the Word of God. We need to learn to be sensitive to God, and to seek to understand what is it that He needs to work in our lives. We shouldn’t worry too much about what other people are doing. We should worry about what God thinks about our actions. Everything that we do here on earth matters in eternity. Don’t believe the lie that God does not pay attention to the things we do wrong here! And everything we do, whether wrong or right, has consequences here, and after.
We should meditate on what we are doing, and why we are doing what we do. We should pray to see things clearly, and for God’s direction on how to deal with those things that need to be fixed. Without self-examination, people can become hypocritical, self-destructive, and destructive to others. So, are you willing to take the challenge (because it is not easy) to look at yourself sincerely, and do something about things that are wrong? Lord bless! John