From Rags to Riches

From Rags to Riches
By John Woodward
July 19, 1999

July '99 theme: Humility

We have been reflecting on the truth that the Lord "gives more grace...' God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' " (James 4:6). Before the riches of God's grace are bestowed on us, we must confess our own spiritual bankruptcy. Consider the first beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matt 5:3). This quality is listed first because the other seven are produced in the believer's life as Christ is appropriated by faith.

The unbeliever must come to recognize his need and then call upon the name of the LORD for salvation (Rom 10:13). Douglas Copeland candidly reveals this spiritual emptiness in his book Life After God. "Now here is my secret: I tell it to you with an openness of heart that I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God--that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love". What honesty! What a humble admission of need! To all with such needs Christ promises "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37,38).

The lost person who admits their spiritual need is much closer to the kingdom of God than the self-righteous person who does not see their total need of God's mercy and grace (c.f. Luke 18:10-14).

When one reaches the end of their own resources they reach a crisis point--like someone at the edge of a cliff. Yet Christ is at the "cliff's edge" as the bridge to life--abundant life! When someone sees their spiritual bankruptcy, but does not know God's infinite grace in Christ, despair results. But in Christ, the darkness of that night is pierced by the light of the gospel. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor 4:6).

V. Raymond Edman wrote of the riches of God's grace provided in salvation: "We had no way in which to escape the bondage of the devil or rise out of spiritual death into the life of God; BUT GOD could do that and has done it for every true believer in the Savior. It is of God's mercy that we were not destroyed when we were in sin, or that we were not left to our own devises. In compassion, He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, to give His life so that we might live in Him." (But God, p.134). In Christ we go from spiritual RAGS to spiritual RICHES!

Do you remember when you received Christ? When the riches of His grace became yours? If not, repent and believe the gospel today! As God promises, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor 6:2).

This same attitude of humility and trust should characterize the life of discipleship. As Colossians 2:6 says: "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." How did you receive Christ? You humbled yourself, confessed your inability to save yourself, and received in Him and everlasting life! How are you you live as a Christian? Likewise, by humbling yourself, confessing your inability to live the Christian life, and depending fully on Christ to give you ABUNDANT LIFE!

It seems that we all find ourselves eventually at "the end of the rope" when it comes to living successfully as a follower of Christ. Paul's description of despair of the self-life becomes ours: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Rom 7:24). And the remedy is the same: "I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:25).

The life of Christ which brings salvation from sin's penalty to the convert, brings abundant life and salvation from sin's power to the humble, trusting disciple. Christ's gracious invitation and promise richly reward our meditation and positive response: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."(Matt 11:28-30).

In the preceding context, we are reminded of the absolute necessity of humility in order to accept divine revelation. "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.' " (Matt 11:25,26).

If the branches of your life are to be full of spiritual fruit, you won't be standing tall in self-confidence; you will be humbly bowed low, laden with the fruit of the Spirit.

We thank you Lord for exchanging our worthless rags of self-righteousness for the riches of Your righteousness in Christ. We rejoice in the grace You pour into our lives as we daily humble ourselves and depend on You. In Christ's merit we pray, amen.

JBW

July 19, '99 vol 2 #29

Notes: Douglas Copeland, best-selling author of Generation X, was quoted in Servant Magazine (of Prairie Bible College).

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