…These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.
Matthew 20:12 NKJV
Mathematics is considered by many to be the perfect science. I'm sure you've heard in one context or another - numbers don't lie. According to thinkquest.com, an equation is defined as "representing the equality of two expressions involving constants and/or variables, and thus usually includes an equals sign."
I've been thinking about the equations of life. There are some amazing constants and variables. Constant in that those of us on the upside of the dirt are alive and breathing. Variables are too numerous to even begin to list. Constant in that according to Scripture (Hebrews 9), all people are appointed to die once and then the judgment. But the variables - why, when, where, how, how long before that happens - again, are too numerous to list.
In doing the study for equals, I was amazed at how many online requests there were asking for the "Scripture reference" for the following:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are
created equal..."
which of course is NOT chapter and verse in Scripture but part of the Declaration of Independence for the United States of America. However, the praying forefathers of our nation were steeped in Scripture. It was the foundation on which they built. So, let me tell you what I've been thinking about.
Are all men created equal? Well, the constant is that we are all created by God - Proverbs 22: - The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both - but the variables (rich and poor) are there, too. We know that we started with one man and then one woman, and after the flood, then we started all over again from one family.
We are all equal when it comes to sinning. Romans 3:23 tells us, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Not very encouraging, is it? But we all have an equal chance at salvation and freedom from our sinning ways. Galatians 3:27-28, And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And we will all be judged impartially by the same criteria, based on what we've done (Revelation 22:12). It will be by the Gospel (Romans 2:16), the record of our lives ( Revelation 20:12), us in comparison to the Truth (also in Romans 2), and it will be fair and just because God has no favorites (Colossians 3:25).
Colossians 3:11 reads, In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
The plan of salvation is offered equally to whosoever believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who laid down His life to pay for our sins (John 3:16) and whosoever has equal opportunity to accept or reject His offer. No matter if you've always known Him, or just found Him, or if you'd like me to introduce you, Jesus is the great Equalizer. He balances the equation(s) of life.
Prayer:
Father,
We cannot even begin to understand how You put it all in balance when the situations in life seem so unequal. I only know that You do. Your amazing love and grace and mercy are beyond our full comprehension, but You knew we would need them and You've made them readily available to us. Help us to walk and work within Your equation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Mathematics is considered by many to be the perfect science. I'm sure you've heard in one context or another - numbers don't lie. According to thinkquest.com, an equation is defined as "representing the equality of two expressions involving constants and/or variables, and thus usually includes an equals sign."
I've been thinking about the equations of life. There are some amazing constants and variables. Constant in that those of us on the upside of the dirt are alive and breathing. Variables are too numerous to even begin to list. Constant in that according to Scripture (Hebrews 9), all people are appointed to die once and then the judgment. But the variables - why, when, where, how, how long before that happens - again, are too numerous to list.
In doing the study for equals, I was amazed at how many online requests there were asking for the "Scripture reference" for the following:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are
created equal..."
which of course is NOT chapter and verse in Scripture but part of the Declaration of Independence for the United States of America. However, the praying forefathers of our nation were steeped in Scripture. It was the foundation on which they built. So, let me tell you what I've been thinking about.
Are all men created equal? Well, the constant is that we are all created by God - Proverbs 22: - The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both - but the variables (rich and poor) are there, too. We know that we started with one man and then one woman, and after the flood, then we started all over again from one family.
We are all equal when it comes to sinning. Romans 3:23 tells us, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Not very encouraging, is it? But we all have an equal chance at salvation and freedom from our sinning ways. Galatians 3:27-28, And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And we will all be judged impartially by the same criteria, based on what we've done (Revelation 22:12). It will be by the Gospel (Romans 2:16), the record of our lives ( Revelation 20:12), us in comparison to the Truth (also in Romans 2), and it will be fair and just because God has no favorites (Colossians 3:25).
Colossians 3:11 reads, In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
The plan of salvation is offered equally to whosoever believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who laid down His life to pay for our sins (John 3:16) and whosoever has equal opportunity to accept or reject His offer. No matter if you've always known Him, or just found Him, or if you'd like me to introduce you, Jesus is the great Equalizer. He balances the equation(s) of life.
Prayer:
Father,
We cannot even begin to understand how You put it all in balance when the situations in life seem so unequal. I only know that You do. Your amazing love and grace and mercy are beyond our full comprehension, but You knew we would need them and You've made them readily available to us. Help us to walk and work within Your equation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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