Luke 18: 9-14
Two people come to pray. Both go to the temple. They know they have to show before God. They both knew that the Lord is God, that He is able, God knows judge with justice. What we see different between the two is the attitude toward the commandments and ordinances of God.
They lived under the law. One of them, called the Pharisee was struggling to fulfill all that the Law said to do and be proud of yourself and your effort.
We must be careful, very careful with pride. Some people say that the first sin was not that Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit that God said not to eat, it was not that disobeying God's command, but his first sin was pride. It was pride that made them think they did not need God, that made them think they could be like God.
Remember Lucifer? Anointed cherub who watched before the throne of God. One day, he looked at himself and was proud of what he saw. Thought it might be equal with God, he was good enough to occupy a throne above the throne of God.
Pride can get you down. Can make you have a false impression of himself, makes you see in you, something you are not, you see more than what is real.
While the Pharisee looked at themselves, their attitudes to their efforts to abide by the law, for the greatness of his heart, he was filled with pride.
If you or I, we look at the things we do, we will also see our hearts are filled with pride, I will also look and see someone who simply does not exist, I see a self that is not real.
But what the publican?
The text says, far away at the back of the temple, a publican was also standing also look within yourself. But when he looked, he was saddened by what he saw. He looked at his life, for his attitude and could only see a sinner, someone who could not walk according to what the law said; someone who could not hear the voice of God and obey; someone who, even if they tried, was far, far from being fair. For this, he beat his breast and head down, sobbing, begging God for mercy.
When I look at myself, I have to see the rot of my sin. The Bible says that my acts of holiness before God, are like filthy rags. You know what this is? You know what the Bible is saying? Filthy rags were the clothes that women wore when they were in their menstrual period. God compares my acts of holiness to the disgusting condition of a used sanitary napkin.
There is no effort that I am able to do to justify me. Only Christ can justify myself, only the Lamb's blood can cleanse me from my sin.
God looked at me, and yet, in all my state of sin and transgression he loved me. He saw nothing of justice, he saw nothing that could be called good, but even so, he chose to love me, he chose to save me, and made it through Jesus Christ, he made it through the cross, through the Calvary.
Do not look at you, look at your sin. Do not attempt to see justice for you, but look at the Fair which is Christ. There is nothing good in you, there is nothing fair, nothing holy. Only in Jesus you can be clean. Only his blood can wash you the most rotten sin that you have committed.
I invite you to do like the publican. Look at your sin and cry for mercy. Scream until God hears you, until he comes and you cover it with the blood of the Lamb and cleanse you from all the dirt of sin. Only Christ can this. Only in Christ you can enter the presence of God and out justified and forgiven. Only through Christ.
The Bible says that there is one mediator between God and men, and this mediator is not me or any pastor, church leader or anyone else. Only Jesus Christ, he is the only mediator between God and men. He alone can cleanse you and forgive you. He did this to me and can make you well.
See you!
Elias Eloy
Restoring Paths Ministry