This week I would like to share a reflection on a parable that Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14.
A zealous man prayed to
God and thanked him for his good works. This man was a man of integrity, he
dealt fairly with others and was morally pure. He committed time to prayer,
even giving up meals to do so, and he gave faithfully to the church. Likely, he
attended church regularly and was active in the church, and a good neighbor,
likely respected by others. He was
zealous. Perhaps he felt fired up in his heart for God. Perhaps he imagined
that all that he did was because of his zeal. He was not like other people who
sinned in ways which were beneath him. He was serious about religion. He would
persevere. He would keep polishing himself up and fight the good fight.
But our Lord Jesus Christ
tells us this upright man was not fighting the good fight at all (Luke 18:14.)
He had zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:1-4.) This man did not see himself as
he was, a sinner in desperate need. Like all of us, he needed to be cleansed
from his sins by the blood of Christ (Romans 3:9-31.)
Another man, a tax
collector who had a bad reputation, and perhaps had lived a scandalous life, deeply
felt the weight of his sin one day. He saw himself as the worst of the worst.
He could not lift his face up to heaven. He called out to God for mercy and
received it. The blood of Christ washed away his sin and he walked with the
risen Lord in newness of life (1 John:5-9, 2 Corinthians 5:17.)
As the tax collector walked
with the Lord, perhaps he did not so much feel himself to be on fire for God.
Perhaps at times he thought his fire for God had gone out. But then he
remembered that God had promised:
He will not cry
aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street; a
bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not
quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isaiah 42:3
Justice had been served at the cross, his sins
had been paid for. He would go on. He would go on by the mercies of the Lord
Jesus Christ who would carry him in his bosom until he reached his heavenly
home where he would see his Savior face to face (Isaiah 40:11.) He would go on,
at times walking in almost darkness, but never without the light of Christ
leading the way (Psalm 23:4). He would go on, groveling for mercy as he learned
even more of the sin he had within him. The Holy Spirit cut at the tax
collector’s heart with his double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12.) The tax collector saw his sins of pride, his
sins of self-righteousness, his immorality, his lies, his theft, his idolatry,
his sloth, and his lack of love for his God. He saw that he violated each of
God’s commands, daily. Though he wanted to be done with sin, it clung to him. It
smelled like hot sweaty feet on a summer day. Each day, the Lord washed his
feet (John 13:1-13.) He did things he did not want to do and did not do the
things he wanted to do (Romans 7:15-20.) He felt himself to be dull in heart,
not a very zealous man. Just a desperate one. He clung to Christ, his only
hope. He meekly told others about his wonderful Savior. Because he knew he had
been forgiven of much, he loved much (Luke 7:47.) The tax collector deeply loved his God and those around him.
In a dark world, he shone like a candle. This was a zealous man.
For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works.
Titus 2:11-14 KJV
