Week 14—Saturday Romans 5:20-21
Romans 5:20-21
“AS IF THE DAY SUDDENLY BRAKE”
We finished yesterday with the thought that other people reap what we sow, for good or ill. We can pass on to others the fruit of our karma. And the greater the person the more far-reaching the effects of that passing on. Gandhi and Lincoln touch the world with the effects of their lives and acts. Suppose there was one who stood at the center of life as the Son of Man and the Son of God, a part of God and a part of everyone, could he not pass on to every child of the race the effects of his life and acts—his karma? And could we reap, not what we sow, but what he sowed? That is, if we identify ourselves with him by surrender and obedience? If we are “in him,” do we not reap what he sowed—his victory our victory, his love our love, his purity our purity?
At the cross we find God Incarnate being sown in sacrifice for the creatures. So that the statement of the Rig Veda becomes true by the substitution of a name: “Prajapati, Lord of creatures gave himself for them—he became their sacrifice.” That was the word of sacrifice become word—no reality in history, but it does become the Word become flesh when you read it, “Jesus Christ, Lord of Creatures, gave himself for them—he became their sacrifice.” Now every creature need not reap what the creature sowed, but reap what Jesus sowed—redemption! That is not a philosophy—the word became word; it is a fact—the Word became flesh. It is not good views—it is Good News!
“O Father Latimer,” cried one, “I prithee hear me, when I read in the New Testament Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, it is as if the day suddenly brake.” When you discover a truth in philosophy or moralism, it is a candle, a torch; but when you get hold of this Truth and it gets hold of you, then the day breaks! The Sun is up!
O Jesus Lord and Savior, you are a sunrise! When we look at you—at you upon the cross, all our half-truths become flickering candles. You are the Sun, And when we see you, we say from the depths: “This is It! Our quest is over! Now we belong to Reality forever.” We thank you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Jesus is my Daybreak. And the cross is the reddening sky announcing the Daybreak.