Missing the MarkThe world is filled with many problems. These problematic situations are usually committed by and caused on behalf of us - humans. It is a disease that Christians call sin. This disease, as told by the Bible will never go away, "for all have sinned and fall short" (Romans 3). The word 'sin,' literally means 'to miss the mark.' Everyone at some point misses the mark of love and turns to selfishness, greed, deceit and … the list goes on. Sin happens when selfish ambitions are sought and others are hurt, including God. In four sentences from the book of Matthew, Jesus tells of a relationship that humanity is given an opportunity to be in, with God and each other. Jesus was asked what the Greatest Commandment is, he replied "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). It is these four sentences that sum up the teachings of Jesus. Humanity is asked to love God and each other as we love ourselves. The problem is we do not always do that. Over and over we all 'miss the mark' of 'loving our neighbors as ourselves' and turn to selfish ambitions. In this world, we will never see the end of war, cheating, hate, greed, selfishness, etc. We are enabled to commit acts of evil. But at the same time we are enabled to do good. We live in a paradoxical world of evil and good, yet the good cannot prevail, from us, because we also harbor the evil. How could pure good and love come from us alone? Christians understand that it is by the grace of God, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, who was perfect, that pays for sins and allows good to prevail. This gift is from God so that none can boast of living better or doing more good than others. The good news of salvation through Christ must be a gift so that when presented to two people, both have equal opportunity of obtaining and living in the promise. Regardless of who has done more right or who has done wrong. Christians understand this from an excerpt of Paul's letter to the Ephesians "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8). Christ provides an infinite number of chances and flawless forgiveness in love. It is through Him that people are equipped to do good works for God and each other. And by the love, grace, mercy, and peace of God, who lives in us, we are able to love and forgive since "we love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
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