TWO STONE TABLETS OR A CROSS
The Christian Bible is split into two testaments, divided into Old and New the birth of Jesus Christ being the line of demarcation. Although both are divinely inspired they sometimes appear quite different in tone. One of the central figures in the Old Testament is Moses, synonymous with the Ten Commandments. However, the actual commandments given in the Old Testament number over 600.
Many people, upon reading this law become discouraged, if not dismayed. How does God expect me to be able to live up to this standard? The Good News of Jesus Christ is this; He doesn’t.
The purpose of so voluminous a law is to overwhelm, to overwhelm even the most self righteous of us to bring us to the realization that our efforts to keep this law are futile. The perfect life has already been lived, you don’t have to live it. Nor can you. Nor can I.
Jesus Christ told his disciples that they must pick up their cross and follow him. What did he mean when he said to pick up your cross? The cross was the instrument upon which Christ suffered and died, the instrument upon which the sins of humanity were poured out on him. Our cross is our baggage, our sins, our iniquities, our pain and our suffering. Christ implores his disciples to pick up their cross and follow him. To follow him just as they were.
When I first became a Christian I did not pick up my cross and follow Christ. Instead, I attempted to pick up the law and follow him. Even as a believer, I thought my standing with God was based on my ability or inability to keep the law. And so I picked up two stone tablets and attempted to follow Christ, and I thought this is what I was supposed to do. It is probably this reason more so than any other that my early attempts to follow Christ were so futile. They were doomed to failure because I could not carry the law, couldn’t live up to it. I couldn’t walk bearing these tablets, I could only crawl a few insignificant feet before being crushed and defeated.
If you believe your standing with God is determined by what you do or do not do according to the law, then you probably believe that God is frequently displeased with you. The Good News of Jesus Christ is that your sins were paid in full by Christ and your good standing with God was purchased in full, for all eternity by Christ. You cannot undo the complete work of Christ. When you accept Christ as savior you are made right with God forever.
The law is good, and holy. However, God does not want people who do the right thing because two stone tablets tell them to, he wants people who do the right thing because it is within them to do the right thing. However, it is not naturally within any of us to do the right thing (at all times). This innate righteousness is found only in Christ, and once Christ dwells in you this righteousness is imparted to you forever, and moreover, Christ begins to work in you, to change you so that you will ultimately become the kind of person who has no need for a law to tell them what to do.
Jesus Christ implored people to follow him just as they are…not to attempt to fix themselves first, then follow him. You do not need to try to “get right with God” before you follow Christ. In fact, you cannot “get right with God”, only Jesus Christ can make you right with God. If you would like for Jesus to make you right with God simply pray something like the prayer below:
Dear Jesus,
I know I am a sinner and have broken your laws. I come to you Lord Jesus just as I am, with all of my problems. I give my life to you just as it is, and I ask you to fix me because I know that I cannot fix myself. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I accept you as my lord and savior. Please come into my life and be my lord and savior and make me the person you created me to be. Thank you lord Jesus that you are now my lord and savior, in your name I pray, Amen.
First Church of the Progressive 