Tapping along with a white cane

Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them,“If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. John 9:40

 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.  Romans 2

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:5

So the question came up at small group last night, the one about the wrath of God coming on those who are disobedient.  And that disobedience covers the gamut of sin, even a hint of coarse jesting or greed or immorality.  I am quite sure that I know is that I don’t understand how it will all exactly sift out at the last judgment, how all of the Scriptures fit together.  And I am thinking about this conversation as I read about Jesus and the blind man from birth and the Pharisees who are fussing about the Law.

One thing is perfectly clear, we are not the Judge, nor are we to judge. Jesus was REALLY unhappy with the Pharisees who were so busy looking at the Law and rules that they missed Him.   And I don’t even think that it’s much of a matter of keeping an eye on even ourselves and our own behavior.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  And I can easily get bogged down, wretched man that I am.  It’s another way of missing Him.  We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 

 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. And it is by living in the light that we expose fruitless deeds of darkness.  Not by the pointing of the finger, but by how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

It is clear that God hates wickedness.   His wrath fall on this evil, this evil that has tangled itself up into our very being, The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Romans 1:18

But it also very clear that we have been saved by Jesus from the wrath of God.  While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, and now that we are reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  As one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.  

What then shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? No.  We are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance: goodness, righteousness and truth.  We are to follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us.

Back to Jesus, and the blind man and the spit and the pool called “Sent.”  He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.  This is the man who came back seeing.