A Fool Like Me

I was having a conversation with my Dad today. Well, the first part was a conversation, a discussion, the second more of a teaching session, with me- the student- falling between concentration and a lack of interest. Still, I believe some interesting points were raised throughout.

He was saying that everyone has a God shaped hole in their heart. Sure, agreed. That people spend majority of their life trying to fill this void with everything but God, until there is essentially nothing left. Again, spot on. That everyone knows (regardless of how earnestly they feel the conviction) when he or she have committed some crime, or sinned in any manner. Here, I was lost.

I don’t know if I can agree with that last point. I gave the simple example of driving in the car along a road. The speed limit is 70km/h, which is the speed you are traveling at. You decide to change the radio station, looking down for a brief second. No crime committed, but in doing so, you missed the sign telling you that the road now has a 50km/h maximum. You continue along, thinking you are in the right, but are pulled over, doing 20km/h over the maximum. You have broken the law. You have sinned. Regardless of whether you knew or not, you must now answer to the authority. Ignorance is no trump card, and will not suffice here.

Sure, I understand that every sin is covered under Christ’s blood, but the problem arises when the above scenario is followed further. What about Hitler? He thought he was doing right. What about Muslims, who blow up building after building, who think they are doing right. Ok, murder is wrong in any sense, but I think the point I am trying to make now has some foundation. How can we be sure that our actions are of God? I don’t even mean the prophets and false teachers the Bible warns against, I mean in everyday life.

We live in a country that is so regulated I can barely step outside my door without committing some wrong. Crossing a road at a set of lights when the ‘red man’ is lit, is a sin. Leaving less than 1m when I park in front or behind is a crime. Men are allowed shirts off, women are not. We are allowed to consume alcohol in some areas, but not in others. I’m not aiming to get legalistic, nor suggesting we all need to, but with the futility I now feel toward doing what is right and correct, I am confused. I have been taught that everyone sins and fall short of Gods glory, meaning that each sin is viewed equal in its significance. Does that mean if something falls from my pocket unbeknown to me so I have accidentally now littered, that I am as evil as if I ravage a girl, or murder an old man.

I still think as I write. I still wrestle with this idea, for I know the conclusion I have come to so far is not it. I know there is more. More importantly, if this is not the question I am to answer in life, I can still take assurance in the fact regardless of my sin or crime, whether I knew it was committed or not, regardless of how big or small it was, I am still covered. Covered in an under a Christ who is so majestically stupendous to love a fool like me.