The following blogs offer a balanced perspective on both secular and Christian failures. It corrects the imbalance between the laud unbelievers heap on their failures and the lash they lay on Christians for theirs.
Why would Benjamin Franklin be praised for failing his own human standards and Christians blamed for failing God's infinitely greater ones? When we all share the problem of a brain and spirit alive with desire but torpedoed by a fallen nature? Shouldn't those who strive for a higher level of life be appreciated even when failing to reach it when those failing in a lower level are honored for their effort? From a purely human standpoint, who deserves more credit: those choosing an easier way through life—the broad road Jesus condemned in Matthew 7:13; OR those voluntarily walking the "narrow road" he approved, Ibid, 7:14. Consider a marathon race. Those with the slowest speeds congregate at the end of thousands of faster runners. Don't all receive honor for finishing the grueling contest? That principle should be as true spiritually. Those feeling crushed by disappointing their LORD—and we ARE when we DO—should be as appreciated as the unsaved person merely disappointed with THEMSELVES by failing self-established goals. Indeed, Christians should receive as many kudos for partially succeeding in God's Greater Cause as secularists succeeding partially in pursuit of their lesser ones. Take Esau and Jacob. The unbeliever overvalues Esau for his refusal to take revenge on a deceitful brother, and undervalues Jacob/Israel for taking fright when learning of Esau's approach. Esau worked through his anger at Jacob to amnesty for Jacob. Remarkable for that day—and ours. While Jacob fell to a conscience still guilty over his deceit to appease an anger that no longer existed. However, while offering kudos to Esau's absence of revenge—forgiveness always excels grudges—both men represent even today the difference between secularists and believers. After 20 years secularist Esau achieved all he considered essential to him: successful animal husbandry, servants and family extension. After 20 arduous years, deceiver-Jacob grew into God's spiritual patriarch. Esau fathered a race of people no longer in existence while Jacob fathered 12 sons whom Moses would lead from Egypt as a new nation which, by the way, is still very much in the news. In a sentence, Esau succeeded in living for this life and Jacob lived 20 years in a state of slavery which turned him into God's FREE MAN for the next! Which man deserves plaudits? Which would we seek to emulate: the one who "struggled" with God and prevailed, or who disregarded God and vanished into nothing? WHICH of the TWO succeeded: Esau, through wrong choices reached his goals or Jacob through his failures reaching God's? End Part III
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