Better Than You Ever Imagined! - God's Righteousness

Better Than You Ever Imagined! – by Desmond Ford

Jun 21, 2015 2525

I want to tell you something about my nature, your nature – human nature. It’s a million times worse than you’ve ever dreamed. Everyone of us, given the opportunity, is capable of any sin. “Oh,” you say, “that’s not true! I wouldn’t get drunk, commit adultery, or steal.” Given the right opportunity. It may be after you’ve been many nights up and you’re oarn out physically, it may be after a series of disappointments, it may be after someone has frustrated you, it may be in a fit of temper – but give the right opportunity, any one of us is capable of any sin.

That’s why we dare not point the finger at anybody. We’re all the same under the surface. We’re all the same. Scratch the surface a little bit and there’s a barbarian. You and me – we’re much worse than we’ve ever suspected. That’s why the Bible speaks about the curse. Cursed is everyone that continues not in all the things in the book of the law to do them. The law reveals us as bad, because our wrong desires show it, and our wrong desires are sinful.

The other half of that point is this: God is much better than we’ve ever dared to hope. We’re much worse than we’ve ever suspected, but God is much better than we’ve ever dared to hope.

You and I believe He’s infinite in wisdom. You and I believe He’s infinite in strength. But you and I do not believe He’s infinite in mercy, now do we? Oh, no! We’re tempted to say, “I’ve done it again. He can’t forgive this me this time!” Lord, I promised you I’d never do that again, and I’ve done it. You can’t forgive me now. Oh yes, Lord, you’re infinite in wisdom and you’re infinite in power, but Lord, you’re not infinite in mercy. You couldn’t possibly be. I wish you were. He is. Aren’t you glad?

We’re worse than we’ve ever suspected, but He’s better than we’ve ever dared to hope. His mercy is infinite as the stars are above the earth. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.” Like as a mother, “They may forget, but I wil not forget thee. I’ve written thee on the palms of My hands. I’ve loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness will not depart from thee, nor the covenant of My peace be removed. For behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if any man open the door – however bad, however weak, however foolish, however impure, intemperate, profane, unbelieving – if any man open the door – any woman – I’ll come in and sup with him.

In the East you don’t sup with your enemies. Once you’ve eaten with someone in the East, they’re your friends for life. And God says, “I’ll come in and sup with you. I’ll never leave you, I’ll never forsake you; how can I give you up?

Yes, we’re worse than we’ve ever suspected, everyone of us, preacher and preached unto. But God is much better. Much better than we’ve ever dared to consider.

The cross tells the story. That Naked Man on the cross is you and me. Without a stitch of righteousness. Remember, clothing is a symbol of righteousness. When you read that going to the cross our Lord had a cloak that was woven without seam from top to bottom, that was a symbol of his perfect righteousness.

What did He do? He gave it to the gamblers who crucified Him. That’s what He’s prepared to do with His righteousness. Give it to us wasters. His cloak was woven from top to bottom–why does it say that? To tell us that it was woven in the heavenly loom, by God. And his cloak was without seam because of His perfection. But the man naked on the cross is the representative of the sinful race. It was God that volunteered to take your place.

– Des Ford. Rom 8:27–32. Adapted from “Tomorrow According to Daniel.”

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