What Dirt Could the World Dig up on You?

​ Unless you live in total isolation from media of any kind, you know about the trial going on for a potential supreme court justice.  People have been digging into the past of both the accused and the accuser. Trying to find dirt to put on display to tarnish his or her character.
 
If someone did this to you, what would they find?  Are there things in your past that you would rather others not know?  As a society (truly all of humanity) we love to point fingers.  We love to find skeletons hidden in closets and drag them out.  We prop them up and pronounce our judgements.  Sharing them passive-aggressively on social media and in indignant conversations with the like-minded.
 
What would be dug up about me?  I like to think that I’m a pretty good person.  I’ve always been kind, trustworthy and fair.  Or have I?  As I stop to think about my past it doesn’t take long for me to compile a mental list.  A list of things I’ve done, said, and thought in the past 41 years that I would rather my mother never know and some that would make me weep with humiliation.  Digging for dirt?  No, all there seems to be is dirt.  
 
There are no innocents in this world, neither has there ever been or ever will be.  There is dirt and plenty of it.  Read the book of Judges then read the newspaper.  “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9.  Paul tells us “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.  We can feel the truth of these verses deeply when we tally up our piles of dirt.  We understand it isn’t just for everyone else, this truth is for us.  
 
If we have to be pure to be with our holy Father, what are we to do?  We are filthy and tarnished.  Not worthy of forgiveness, certainly not worthy of blood to be spilled on our behalf!
 
Here. Right here is where the grace of God finds its climax.  At the cross.  “Yet while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.  Still sinners, still weak, ungodly, and still sinners again.  Those words describe us too well.  But God showed his love for us in that he sent his perfect Son to bear his wrath against our sin and die in our place.
 
Oh dear God, why?  Why die for a dirty sinner?  Because the worthiness of this sacrifice does not rest with us.  It is because of the great mercy and grace of God and the ultimate worthiness of the sacrifice, Jesus Christ.  
 
Jesus was resurrected and remains alive today.  He is seated next to the Father as our Advocate (1 John 2:1).  He is proclaiming NOT our innocence, NOT our dirt-free existence, but that our debt has been paid in full, once and for all of time.  If this doesn't rock your world you are not alive.  You must still be dead and buried under that pile of dirt.  Believe in Jesus.  There is only a short window of time. God is merciful and full grace but he is also just and will punish those who choose to love their dirt instead of him.

When the world stands accusing and pointing fingers, don’t join in.  Remember where Christ has pulled you from.  “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” Psalm 40:2.  Christian, you no longer live in the dirt. You have been pulled out and are being washed clean with the truth of the Word. The day is coming when we will be clothed in white and the full extent of our salvation will be realized.  Until then, praise him, praise him, praise him for what he has done.