The Real Selfie

At church on Sunday morning we are studying through the book of Romans.  Our Pastor, Tom Pennington, is faithful to exegete the text.  Sometimes it’s painful when I recognize myself in the passage we are studying.  Last Sunday was no exception.

With a little levity Tom brought some perspective to all the “selfie” rage that’s going on in our world today and asked the following questions.  What you would think if I opened up my wallet and whipped out an accordion picture holder and instead of picture of children or family, it was filled with pictures of me?  Or what if you walked in my home and the entryway was filled with pictures of me? 

Tom went on to share that with the selfie trend being so big there’s now software you can load on your smart phone to Photoshop your picture so you are looking good when you upload your latest selfie.  Get rid of all those lines, wrinkles and blemishes. 

That’s not to say that I don’t love seeing pictures of family and friends that they share on Facebook and Instagram.  I really do, especially being so far away.  But Tom’s illustrations kind of put things in perspective.

Where it really got painful is when Tom read through Roman 3:9-20 and said this scripture is a very telling “selfie” word picture of what we are really like.  There’s no Photoshop for this word picture from God who really sees what we’re like deep down inside. 

All Have Sinned

⁹ What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
¹¹ There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
¹² They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
¹³ “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
¹⁴ “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways;
¹⁷ And the way of peace they have not known.”
¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

When I read that description, there’s no denying that I’m that sinner.  I can see it plain as day.  But praise God, He knew that we are sinners and He provided the perfect remedy for our sin.  He gave His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus.  And whosoever will believe in Him, he will not perish but have ever lasting life. 

Thank You Jesus for paying the penalty on the cross for my great and grievous sin.  Thank You for living a perfect and sinless life.  Thank You Father for accepting Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment in full for my sin.  Thank You for giving evidence that is undeniable by raising Him from the grave.  Thank You Jesus, that as You are seated at the right hand of the Father You are interceding for me.  Help me today to live a life dependent upon You.  In Jesus Christ’s precious and saving name I pray…Amen!