If I ever write a book, it will probably be titled, “Saved by Sin.” Why?? Let me say this before I answer that: If I told you I had the cure for AIDS and it can be yours for free, what would you say to that generous offer? Well, if you don’t have AIDS you would just shrug. Thanks, but no thanks. I’m good. Well, I discovered something slogging along this road of life for the past 35 years and counting: I suck. Spiritually speaking, anyway. And likely in other ways I’m not ready to admit. And it’s this suckiness that sent me scrambling to the cross of Christ for grace and forgiveness. My regrets have not evaporated. Some haunt my sleep. But my solace is in God’s grace–which I never would have known if I had not known the depths of my sin. So, thank you, sin, for doing your worst in me to drive me out of myself to Christ. We all have a spiritual sickness: sin. But if we say things like, “I’m not perfect, but…” then we probably would not appreciate the sacrifice of Christ for that light “imperfection” we so easily shrug off. You would only be interested in an offer of a cure for AIDS if you had AIDS! Likewise, you only really get interested in a cure for sin and guilt when you realize the depths of your sin. So, thank you, sin. Sort of. As that great hymn says, “Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow” (“Jesus Paid it All”)
