Two Different Laws

As I followed the Amanda Knox trial, I was captivated at the intrigue that filled her circumstances. One news commentator (And I don’t remember who it was) pointed out that if the circumstances occurred in the United States, then Ms. Knox would never have faced a trial, let alone a conviction. However, because she came up against Italian law and not U.S. law she was condemned. I don’t want to debate her guilt or innocence in this article. What I want to do is to point out a spiritual reality illustrated in her predicament.

There is a judgment that all people must face, it is the unquestioned judgment of Almighty God. God is the ultimate “Lawgiver” and has the right to bring all humanity to trial. 1 John 3:4 states, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore, if everyone has sinned and sin is the violation of God’s law, then the entire world stands condemned.

What if you had the opportunity to escape such condemnation? What if, unlike Amanda Knox, you could find yourself under the authority of another law—a law that does not condemn you but provides a pardon for all sin and freedom from judgment? Is that a law you want to live under?

Romans 8:1-2 reads, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

God has provided, in Christ Jesus, an opportunity for anyone to escape the judgment that will fall upon the entire world. The Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Are you holding out hope that you will be able to defend yourself before God when the time of judgment comes? Do you think you will be able to overcome the “law of sin and death” on your own? God provides you the opportunity to escape judgment and condemnation. All you must do is surrender to Jesus Christ, yield to Him and live in the law of the Spirit of life.

Amanda did not get the chance to be judged by another law. You have that chance when it comes to the judgment of God. Will you take it?

©2010
Rev. Michael Duncan

Divine Evaluation

Revelation 1:12-13, “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.”

Jesus is in the midst of the lampstands, moving, working, ministering to His church. That’s what the lampstands represent (Revelation 1:20). Christ Jesus is in the midst of His people, but I wonder if there is something else, some other reason that Jesus navigates among the lampstands and so I offer this question: is the Lord Jesus looking for something?

In 2 Chronicles 16:9 the seer, Hanani, spoke to Asa, king of Judah, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This statement comes as a rebuke to the king, for Asa had relied upon a worldly solution to his dilemma rather than trusting the Lord. These words come to the church today as a reminder that the Lord still searches the hearts of His own people. But what is the Lord Jesus looking for? Might He be looking for that lampstand, that church, even that Christian, which glows with no other light than His own? A light fueled by nothing less than the oil of His own Spirit?

When in the military, it was not uncommon for the commanders to gather their troops for inspection. They walked through the rank and file with their keen eyes set upon each soldier. They offered no encouragement, no pats-on-the-back. They inspected their troops and brought each soldier into compliance with their standards. Jesus doesn't walk in the midst of the lampstands simply to encourage but to examine, to evaluate the church and bring it into compliance with His standards. The second and third chapters of Revelation make that abundantly clear.

Jesus is looking at your life right now… what does He see? Does He see the flames of bitterness? Or does He see the darkness of doubt? Does Jesus see in you the embers of lost hope? The ashes of a forgotten faith? Does He see the missionary fires burning brightly? Does He watch the passionate flames of faithfulness despite the grip persecution? Will Jesus need to come into your life with the sword of His word and cut away the dross that diminishes your life? Will Jesus move through your church with encouragement or does he stand outside at the door, and knock?

They eyes of the Lord are upon you and He watches in order to commend or correct, to reward or rebuke. The Lord Jesus walks in the midst of his people and He is looking for something—He is looking for faith.

©2009
Rev. Michael Duncan