When we have spats or trouble, I don't take off the ring and set it on a
pedestal and pray to it. I don't rub it and seek wisdom. Were I to lose the
ring, I'd be disappointed, but our marriage would continue. It is a symbol,
nothing more.
Suppose I tried to make the ring more than it is. Suppose I became a jerk of a
husband, cruel and unfaithful. Imagine that I failed to provide for Denalyn's
needs or care for our children. What if one day she reached the breaking point
and said, "You are not a husband to me. There is no love in your heart or
devotion in your life. I want you to leave."
How do you think she'd respond if I countered, "How dare you say that? I'm
wearing the ring you gave me. I've never removed it one minute! Sure I beat you
and cheated on you, but I wore the ring. Isn't that enough?"
How many of you think such a defense would move her to apologize and weep, "Oh,
Max, how forgetful of me. You have been so sacrificial wearing that ring all
these years. Sure you have beaten me, abandoned me, neglected me, but I'll
dismiss all that because you have worn the ring"?
Hogwash. She'd never say that. Why? Because apart from love, the ring means
nothing. The symbol represents love, but it cannot replace love. Paul is
accusing the Jews of trusting the symbol of circumcision while neglecting their
souls. Could he accuse us of the same error?
Substitute a contemporary symbol such as baptism or communion or church
membership.
"God, I know I never think about you. I know I hate people and cheat my friends.
I abuse my body and lie to my spouse. But you don't mind, do you? I mean after
all, I was baptized at that Christian camp when I was ten years old."
Or, "Every Easter I take communion."
Or, "My father and mother were fifth generation Presbyterians, you know."
Do you think God would say, "You're right. You never think of me or respect me.
You hate your neighbor and abuse your kids, but since you were baptized, I will
overlook your rebellion and evil ways"?
Hogwash. A symbol has no power apart from the ones who share it.
In my closet is a varsity football jacket. I earned it by playing two years of
high-school football. It, too, is a symbol. It's symbolic of sweat and work and
long hours on the practice field. The jacket and a sore knee are reminders of
something I could do twenty years ago. Do you think if I put the jacket on now
I'd instantly be twenty pounds lighter and a whole lot faster? Do you think if I
wore that jacket into the office of a coach he'd extend his hand and say, "We've
been waiting for a player like you. Go out there and suit up!"?
Hogwash. That jacket is merely a memoir of something I once did. It says nothing
about what I could do today. It alone doesn't transform me, empower me, or
enable me.
Neither does your heritage, even if you're a descendant of John Wesley.
Neither does your communion service, even if you double up on the wafers.
Neither does your baptism, even if you got dunked in the Jordan River.
Please understand. Symbols are important. Some of them, like communion and
baptism, illustrate the cross of Christ. They symbolize salvation, demonstrate
salvation, even articulate salvation. But they do not impart salvation.
Putting your trust in a symbol is like claiming to be a sailor because you have
a tattoo or claiming to be a good husband because you have a ring or claiming to
be a football player because you have a letter jacket.
Do we honestly think God would save his children based upon a symbol?
What kind of God would look at a religious hypocrite and say, "You've never
loved me, sought me or obeyed me, but because your name was on the roll of a
church in the right denomination I will save you"?
On the other hand, what kind of God would look at the sincere seeker and say,
"You dedicated your life to loving me and loving my children. You surrendered
your heart and confessed your sins. I want to save you so badly. I'm so sorry,
your church took communion one time a month too many. Because of a technicality,
you are forever lost in hell"?
Hogwash. Our God is abundant in love and steadfast in mercy. He saves us, not
because we trust in a symbol, but because we trust in a Savior.
In the Grip of Grace
copyright [Word Publishing, 1996] Max Lucado, p. 48-50.
Used by permission
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