Marking Iniquities

TITLE: Marking Iniquities
DATE:  July 3, 2019
TEXT:. Psalm 130:3-5  ESV - 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,  O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness,  that you may be feared.  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Before reading this devotion there is one thing you need to understand: I don’t know President George Washington personally.

By that I mean, I have not visited with him either in person or via electronic media; nor have I been in consultation with any of his representatives. Lastly I have to confess that no money or any other kinds of goods have exchanged hands.

Sounds silly, doesn't it?
Of course it does. Everyone knows Washington has been dead more than 200 years. For most of that time this nation held the “Father of our Country” in the highest respect. Some would say he was “whitewashed” by historians, but I never found it to be so.

• He wasn’t a great general, but he managed to keep his rag-tag army together long enough to wear down Britain.
• He wasn’t a perfect President but he established some fine principles and guidelines for all those who would try to govern after him.
• He wasn’t a flawless man, but he did free  his slaves upon the death of his wife.

In short, most of history, judging George in the context of his times have decided Washington was an exemplary fellow and worthy to be honored. That’s MOST of history.

Sadly we live in an age which judges all historical figures by present-day mores, standards and customs. If the people of the past can’t walk into our homes perfect and pristine, they are condemned. Which mean everyone from the past is being condemned.
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That’s why San Francisco’s George Washington High School is debating what to do with a mural depicting various parts of the President’s life. Of special interest are the panels which show slaves and a dead Native-American at his feet.  

Some students say it is “rude and disrespectful” another said it causes a “lot of emotional stress.”

Right now the School Board is deciding what to do with it... cover it with curtains; encapsulate it; paint over it. I don’t know what George’s future is but I don’t think it is good... none of the Board members have urged the mural be kept.

Thinking about the harsh and unforgiving standard of judgment which is today’s standard, I wonder how people would feel if those same measures were to be applied to them?  Well, Scripture tells you how they should feel. They should be mighty fearful. “ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” There you have it. By God’s standard we are pitiful and condemned.

We would be condemned if it weren’t for this single fact: “ But with Him there is forgiveness.” The life, sacrifice, suffering and death of the Christ is our rescue from judgment; it is the reason why we are destined for heaven and not for hell.
Oh, one last thing....God’s standards don’t change.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, accept my deepest thanks; receive my most sincere respect for the Messiah Whose life has covered my sins and saved me. May I always be grateful. In His Name. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this address: https://www.newser.com/story/276811/school-mulls-hiding-complicated-mural-of-george-washington.html and the article written by Jenn Gidman
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html