The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them, there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11, ESV)
I remember seeing a video of myself swinging a golf club for the first time. It wasn’t anything I planned on. I was at a batting cage with my son throwing batting practice, and a friend, who plays golf competitively, was there working on perfecting his golf swing using video equipment.
He encouraged me to take a look at myself. With skepticism and a little smug vanity, I stepped in front of the camera and hit a few balls into the net. We looked at the video, and I was speechless, appalled, and embarrassed. Need I say more? My swing was and remains fundamentally flawed. But who knew? I will tell you who knew. Everybody that I ever played golf with knew…everybody but me.
Can you imagine if there were no mirrors, no such thing as a reflection on a still body of water or plate glass? Imagine what we all would look like if we had never seen a reflection of ourselves.
It’s hard enough when we can see our flaws to appear presentable in public. Without reflection, we would only have loved ones to tell us we have some work to do on ourselves.
The same can be said of bathroom scales. If I don’t like or want to know what the scale will tell me, I stay away from it.
Should we conclude that the video equipment is awful? Or is the mirror warped? Or that the scales need calibrating? By no means!
That is the same answer the Apostle Paul offered when he asked the question:
“What shall we say then? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.” (Romans 7:7a, ESV)
It is a well-established truth in the post-reformation church that the law does not save.
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28, ESV)
“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made… (Galatians 3:19b, ESV)
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came so that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24, ESV)
Just as the video showed me how flawed a golfer I am, the law mirrors God’s perfect righteousness. It also displays my sinfulness. When I look into this mirror and gaze upon God’s holiness, I can only conclude, “I am a sinner. I need a Savior.”
Jesus didn’t come to rescue my golf game. But He did come to save my soul.
Thank you, Jesus!
Prayer: God! Thank you for revealing our sinfulness and need for the Savior.