Honest to God

We should be honest to everyone but especially, we should be honest to God. In Mark 3:4 Jesus addressed a question to the Pharisees and others who were gathered with Him in the synagogue. "...Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil; to save life or to kill..." (Mark 3:4)? The listeners responded by remaining silent.

Though the Pharisees kept silent, Jesus did not. On that Sabbath day Jesus told a man with a withered hand who was present to "stretch out your hand." Then Jesus proceeded to heal him. His hand was restored as whole as the other.

The sad truth on display in this situation is the Pharisees cared more about observing their perverted rituals than they cared for the afflicted man. They would rather honor an empty ritual than to do good. No wonder Jesus looked around at them with anger and was grieved by the hardness of their hearts (Mark 3:5).

The question as to whether we should do good or evil, save life or kill is one that deserves an honest to God answer. It has great relevance for our own day. Our nation and our world are afflicted with violence. Evil is on a rampage. We may ask the question, what can I do? We can determine to do good and not evil, to save life and not kill.

It is possible to become so wrapped up in our selfish interest that doing good or saving life becomes a secondary concern at best. Maybe we aren't concerned at all as long as we advance our own cause.

For many years I have sought to fulfill God's calling in my life by serving Him and the body of Christ as a pastor. I have to ask myself, what has been my chief motivation? Has it been to do good and save life? Keeping our jobs, putting out fires and satisfying people can become more important to a pastor than doing good and saving life.

As professing Christians, we can develop our own religious habits and rituals and become so comfortable in our routine that we lose sight of the weightier matters of doing good and saving life.

I often wonder if the elected officials in our nation really want to do good and save life or if their only desire is to win the next election or come out on top in whatever partisan battle in which they are presently engaged. Can anyone take an honest look at the political landscape in America and conclude that the major concern of elected officials is to do good and save life?

I am in no way suggesting a salvation by works theology in this blog. We are saved by grace through faith, but we are saved to do good and not evil, to save life rather than kill.

The Bible makes clear that Jesus came into the world do good and save life. This purpose ultimately led Jesus to the cross where He lay down His life for us for our salvation. He came forth from the grave with His mission fully accomplished. Let's make it our mission to do good and save life.