SCRIPTURE
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is bless forever! Amen.”[1]
“…among whom we all once lived in the passion of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”[2]
“’The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.’”[3]
“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…”[4]
CALVIN: BOOK ONE, CHAPTER FOUR
“But though experience testifies that a seed of religion is divinely sown in all, scarcely one in a hundred is found who cherishes it in his heart, and not one in whom it grows to maturity, so far is it from yielding fruit in its season.”[5]
REFLECTION
The bane of human depravity is the idolatrous perception of self-worship. Self-worship is simply an exaltation of human will above God’s will. Willfully transgressing against God’s will, which is detailed plainly in His Word, is an abrogation from God’s familial covenant. Human souls not effectually subscribed to God’s will through covenantal love, meaning, those without the indwelling Holy Spirit mysteriously abiding within them do retain within them a semblance of divine seed. Persons outside of Christ, though incapable of salvific redemption in and of themselves, have basic foundational faculties made in the image of God. Nevertheless, this divine seed is not the same as regeneration experienced in salvation. Therefore, such a divine seed is not to be mistaken as prooftext for universal salvation. Romans 1:21-15 and Ephesians 2:3 indicate the state of unredeemed humanity. This is not merely theory-it is the Word of God. Calvin here laments the fallen state of humanity, identifying true representation of God’s grace demonstrated in human vessels as a rare occurrence. To be sure, such a rarity is not from God’s absence, rather, humankind’s inclination toward prioritizing itself above His will is the central attribute. Even within the fold of God we are perplexed to ponder the devastating ramifications Jesus warned us about, who said, “…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?’”[6] Thereby, whether in Christ or in the flesh, sin nature and death are only conquerable by and through our wrath-bearing God.[7] God’s eyes are fixated on humanity, and even while we were yet immersed in sin Christ died for us,[8] “for the joy that was set before Him.” Therefore, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the regenerative work of the cross, humanity, by divine means may eradicate self-worship as the Spirit ushers them into true everlasting worship of God in three-persons. Ontologically speaking, the “seed of religion divinely sown in all” is an incomplete manifestation without the Holy Spirit restoring in us an appropriate foundation of human identity. Meaning, worshipping Jesus is what makes an end to idolatry. As we grow in worship idolatry decreases, and when idolatry decreases our identity in Christ increases. This is a work of discipleship unto maturing in faith.
PRAYER
Father of glory, thank you for sending your Son to bear the full weight of penalty which I, and all of humankind deserve unequivocally. There is no greater truth in all the universe! Thank you for looking upon my molded estate with compassion. Lord, have mercy on my kindred and the fallen myriads throughout the world. We are but little children masking our helpless state with the guise of fleshly wisdom and maturity. Whether one is a day old in the beloved, or twenty-years into a path which has been laden with peril and grace-all glory and honor and power to save and sustain human hearts in the love of God is yours alone. Furthermore, in my darkest hour, you look upon my shameful endeavors, and instead of striking me dead where I stand, with infinite joy and love you recue me. If I were to think upon even a fraction of my own shame, without your grace I would writhe under the weight of my assured condemnation. Yet, by your grace alone I am bound to meditate on the goodness of God. You have filled my heart and mind with immeasurable delight. The scandal of grace, which offends the demands of unregenerate minds, has surely provided my soul with beauty for ashes. I am not ashamed of your Gospel. You have truly exchanged my life, like bloody rags, gifting me Jesus, undeserved as I am. To be sure, it is your gift of everlasting righteousness through Christ blood which blots out my transgressions, providing the mystery of my clean estate. In recognition of such wondrous mercy you have given, Jesus, I pray you have mercy on the church and on the lost souls of this treacherous world. Give to us the Holy Spirit. Teach us to be led by the Holy Spirit according to your Word. Let us not be one’s who have withered in faith before the great and terrible day of Jesus’ return. Deliver your church from worldly wont and give to your children grace to walk in the ways of your kingdom. Preserve in us a steadfast resolve for worship-based obedience and perpetually rekindle the fire of love. Restore in us first-love passion-that kind of God-gifted passion which eagerly sells everything to take hold of the eternal treasure in Christ. Let not my faith dwindle, rather, make my life fruitful in due season. Amen.
[1]ESV. English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2001. Romans 1:21-25. Print.
[2]Ibid., ESV. Ephesians 2:3.
[3]Ibid., ESV. Matthew 13:44.
[4]Ibid., ESV. Hebrews 12:2.
[5]John Calvin, Translated by Henry Beveridge. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, LLC, 2008. P. 12. Print.
[6]Ibid., ESV. Luke 18:8.
[7]Ibid., ESV. 1 John 4:10: “In this love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
[8]Ibid., Romans 5:8.