Jan | 17 | A Wrong Kind of Revival

POWER

A Wrong Kind of Revival

Romans 7:9-12
I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. NKJV

Currently the world’s longest running musical production is Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables. I write at the time of its 28th year and the production’s main website reports that the production has been seen “……by more than 65 million people in 42 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, and it is still breaking box-office records everywhere…..” The story is set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, telling a captivating story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption revolving primarily around the central hub of the characters of ex-convict ‘Jean Valjean’ who is hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman ‘Javert’ after he breaks parole. It is the obvious types of Law and Grace portrayed in the relationship between the consistently savage, unswerving, unrelenting and ever pursuing figure of the righteous law as portrayed in the policemen ‘Javert’, and the contrast of gracious redemption found in that that supreme object of unmerited favour, shown to the undeserving and running convict of ‘Jean Valjean’, that presents itself to us today. In these two characters, it is easy to see that the law convicts and condemns without mercy, and that grace forgives, releases and empowers. Remember that; grace EMPOWERS. For when the human character of Javert finally finds himself so conflicted in his mind regarding this regenerated and released, changed and empowered to do good ‘Jean Valjean’ who eventually stands before him, well, Javert, for a number of reasons, commits suicide. It would appear that law and grace cannot live in the same world. However, this is not true.

 The redeemed Christian needs to know that the law cannot justify men and that it has not justified them. The law, which is holy, just and good, rightly convicts us and condemns us. Indeed, the law even riles up the unrighteous nature within us, reviving it to even further rebellion. Yes, the law does bring a revival, but it is a revival to sin and greater ruin.

When grace is given to the convicted man, when grace converts the convicted man, when grace justifies the once condemned man, when grace regenerates the once dead in sin man, when grace empowers and energises that now saved individual the law does not kill itself, but rather, in happy surprise, it finds that it is now married to that saved person and that same saved person now happily not only fulfils the demands of the law but excels beyond it producing all the fruits of righteousness in both character and good works. Grace, you see, fulfils the righteous law. Do not forget that. So, let me ask you today Christian: Can you even list the ten commandments?  

Listen:- "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV

Pray: -  Father, those areas in my life which are contrary to Your law, please reveal and correct. Then, Oh Lord, let me experience the power to live with, on and way above your holy law in a way which exemplifies Your grace and pleases Your heart. Amen and amen!

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