How Are We To Be Compared If We Are Totally Depraved?
Good Morning Friends,
Friends we are a blessed people and our blessings will grow when we share our abundance for those who follow in our footsteps. Know the truth of what Jeremiah is teaching us for it is based in real life and can be observed in our own life experiences as well as in the natural world. Know the truth of the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. There is a purpose behind the reality that you are blessed. There is importance in life’s choices linked to outcomes. Today’s text poses some heavy theological questions that Calvin undoubtedly used to support his view of the human condition. But as I think about the scripture and what I think I know of theology, I must wonder through the tears as I peal back the layers of the onion. How Are We To Be Compared If We Are Totally Depraved?
Scripture: Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NRSV)
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”
Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
Message: Did you ever have to write an essay in school, comparing elements of a topic and giving examples? I imagine that you did. Today we look at two examples of this academic exercise from Jeremiah and Luke and the backdrop is reflecting a theology that includes the reality of our total depravity. Luke writes about Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the rich man. It shows the stark contrasts between two men during their lives and what happens after they die. Jeremiah compares, and contrasts dried up plants in the desert with strong fruitful trees, deliberately and carefully placed where they would be bound to flourish. Here we discover that trusting God has very different consequences to trusting in people. Friends, God is the one who keeps all His promises and always delivers. We put way too much trust in the wrong things. We trust in our accomplishments and the accomplishments of others only to discover that it is ultimately a misplaced trust. As God’s people we are to put our ultimate trust in the Lord and to act on that trust. Then if we feed on Christ, the Water of Life, He will keep us spiritually healthy and producing fruit and shade in abundance to share. That is the result of trust in God. The choice is clear and has eternal consequences. Friends nothing really compares to God. All other choices end badly. We can choose our sins, but we cannot choose our consequences. God has honored us with the freedom to choose paradise or punishment. And God does so want none to perish. Trust in God and choose wisely and your life will be compared to a tree that brought forth fruit shared.
And So, A lot of people have a misconception regarding total depravity and what is required to enter the kingdom of God. We tend to misinterpret the term and fail to realize that we must be as little children with humble dependence on God. Total depravity does not mean that people are as evil and sinful as they can be, nor does it mean that people are without a conscience or any sense of right or wrong, nor that they cannot grow. Neither does it mean that people do not or cannot do things that seem to be good when viewed from a human perspective or measured against a human standard. It does not even mean that people cannot do things that seem to conform outwardly to the law of God. What the Bible does teach and what total depravity does recognize is that even the “good” things people do are tainted by sin because they are not done totally for the glory of God and out of faith in Him. the thing is to trust God not the works of people. That is why trying to improve oneself apart from the work of the Holy Spirit and Christ is a worthless endeavor. The nature of humans portrayed by Jeremiah presents a sad view and we may not like to embrace it and yet Paul seems to echo it when he says, and I paraphrase, that there is none that does good, not a one, all is as filthy rags. And yet we have hope that though our sin reaches far, God’s grace reaches infinitely farther.
Pray that we discover in contrast to fallible humans, that God is the unfailing one. Pray we trust in God and be well watered, giving fruit and shade to others. Pray we offer our thanks to God by extending love and compassion towards those who are less fortunate. Pray we have faith in God. Pray we realize that we cannot bring any good into this world unless we do it with God. Pray we realize that God judges the heart and that we have sick hearts. Pray we realize that we desperately need grace and healing. Pray we realize that salvation comes to us when God comes to us and we submit. Pray we not deceive ourselves. Pray we realize that we have no option but to trust and obey. Pray we are willing to turn from any and everything that would prevent us from following wholeheartedly after Jesus. Pray we are willing to come to Jesus and obey without conditions. Pray we are willing to let God reorder our lives for the glory of the only thing that is good. Pray we realize that God is an expert of taking what is bad and turning it into something that is good. Pray we are willing to trust in Jesus and surrender everything to God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 