When Doing Works Doesn’t Work!

Many people wrongfully conclude that in order for God to bless them in their lives, there are certain works they must do in order to fulfill their part of the condition. Some view their requirements as a need to keep the Ten Commandments at a minimum. Others have concluded that if their good outweighs their bad, they at least have a chance. And sadly, some poor souls live in a perpetual cycle of trying and falling short, trying harder and still falling short, never quite able to get there, despite their sincere heartfelt efforts to do so. Yet the reality is that the works, large or small, are not a condition they must fulfill in order to enjoy God’s blessings in their lives. Works or trying to earn God’s approval is something people have taught for centuries, all based on the fear of losing God’s blessings in their lives. It is the same Adam hiding himself from God in the garden played out and repeated over many years. It could be that the Old Testament law persuaded them of the need for work; the work required to keep the law. But, even under that system, no man even had the potential to fulfill the law due to the sin nature in their blood. Thus the purpose for the law was to clearly identify what is right and what is wrong for all men. Then, having established the true standard, God sent His only son to fulfill it completely. (The only one with even the potential to get the job done). What was intended to produce life ended up becoming a curse because no man could ever live up to it. So, here is my point, lest I lose you in the details. All that we could ever receive from God comes via His grace and not by works (lest any man should boast). God has not changed. God already knew no man would be able to fulfill the law, so why would he setup a system knowing it could not be accomplished? He didn’t. Instead (in that system) He solved our sin problem for us by having His beloved son fulfill the just demands and after satisfying payment in full, forever freed us from the clutches of the adversary thereby enabling us to receive from God all that He promised, not by our works, but by grace. Unearned, unmerited divine favor based on His unconditional love for us. And in doing so, liberated us forever from any requirement to earn His approval and blessings. Read that sentence again! You and I are not required to do “works” to earn God’s approval, but instead live based upon the completed “works” of another man. We no longer have to consume ourselves with how good or bad we are. As long as ourself is our focus, we will never get to the place of believing God for His promises because we won’t ever be able to get beyond our self. No matter how tirelessly we work and sacrifice and make ourselves clean, by our own efforts, we will never be able to get past our dirty, old nature, already corrupted and already crucified in God’s sight. It is a game you can never win. It is a contest, by which with your agreement to play, leads to defeat before you even start. It’s a cruel joke. It is a life of failure and even worse, a distinct lack of the blessings God already wants to give you. Doing works doesn’t work.

It is certainly no criticism to you for having learned these things. In this world, what else could you have learned? But, it is neither an accident nor happenstance. You, like all of the rest of us, have been led astray. You were taught ideas and concepts that didn’t draw you closer to God, but actually pushed you further away from Him. Those opponents of God are well aware how we humans are wired, even our inborn desire to please God. Then based on many lies, devised a system that would forever keep us bound. Works are that system. To clarify, there is nothing at all wrong with the good works God has called us to do, nor is there anything remotely wrong with seeking to please Him. But, once you accept the delusion that His goodness is somehow based on your goodness, then you are in trouble. You and I could not make ourselves good enough for Him based on our own works. Instead God did it for us in the life of His son. Our job is not now to add works to His work, but rather accept what He did for us. You’ll know if you are accepting it by how many “works” you continue to do. What God did for you is so big you cannot add to it, nor SUBTRACT from it. And since you cannot even subtract from it with all your dirty deeds (smile), then you are actually, for once in your life, free! Free from the tyranny of sin. Free from the need to examine and evaluate and judge and condemn yourself from morning until evening. Free. Can you imagine? How much more would God be able to bless you when you were doing it His way instead of your own way, totally dependent upon how holy your day was? I trust you are starting to get the picture. This notion that God makes endless arbitrary rules for people to try and live within just for rules sakes is nuts. In the Garden of Eden there was only one rule to follow, yet mankind still fell. Living with a perpetual sense of something else needs to be done is no way to live. That’s not a life. That’s a performance. Imagine spending your whole life killing yourself to live up to some code you haver had to live up to? Doing works does not work.

A great man once told me, “Love God, love your fellow man and do as you damn fool please.” God is not limiting your experience of life. He desires for you to live it and experience it and enjoy it, all through the work of another man (Jesus Christ). My friends, you never ever have to try and please God to earn His love and His provision for your life. He loved you eons before you ever even knew who He was. Let go of your futile attempts at pleasing Him and please Him instead by believing what He said. Your blessings are already coming your way. Doing works doesn’t work…

Just some good thoughts.