Lately, it seems I've referred an awful lot to
the following passage of Scripture. Perhaps that is just because
it is so utterly striking. Frankly, to me, it is in some ways
quite incomprehensible: "I tell the truth in Christ, I am
not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For
I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my countrymen according to the flesh," (Romans 9:1-3, NKJV).
These words of Paul will haunt conscientious readers
for as long as the world stands. In bemoaning the stubbornly rebellious
attitudes of so many of his fleshly brethren, the Israelites,
Paul expresses his unending grief. It pained him that, without
their penitence, they would be lost. Who among the body of Christ
has not also felt the deep and abiding pain of knowing and loving
people who choose to remain lost?
The most striking portion of the passage is Paul's
affirmation that, if he could, he would accept the curse so that
his brethren could be saved: "For I could wish that I myself
were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according
to the flesh ..." If I understand Paul correctly, his grief
affected him so profoundly that he hypothesized on the impossible.
He looked in vain for any solution to his countrymen's salvation
even if it would have meant the sacrifice of his own. This statement's
formulation calls to mind two vital lessons from Scripture.
First, the Lord expects compassion from His people.
Those on whom the Lord has had compassion are to extend that compassion
to others. The Jewish leaders of Jesus' day were proud of their
religiosity, but blinded to their hardness of heart. They prayed
and fasted (Luke 18:9-14) but demanded a woman's life just to
test and discredit the Christ (John 8:1-11). May the Lord's people
never forget that conversion to following Him is inextricably
intertwined with a commitment to compassion for fellow Christians
and for those yet lost.
Similar to Paul, Moses had such compassion that
he was compelled to ask to take the penalty for the Israelite
people: "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not,
I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
(Exodus 32:32) However, God replied, "Whoever has sinned
against Me, I will blot him out of My book." (Exodus 32:33)
No matter how sacrificial a soul may feel, no one can substitute
his soul for the salvation of another. God is just, and judges
each individual (2 Cor. 5:10) on the standard of Christ's word
(John 12:48). Compassion is great, and ever so needed, but reality
recalls the thinking to the idea that God justly recompenses each
individual.
Thus, the second lesson of the passage is called
to mind. Paul's hypothetical wish reminds us that a judgment of
being lost helps no one. There is nothing noble in refusing to
become a Christian. One hears, in the course of years of work,
many excuses for denying Christ's salvation. Some of these vainly
aim at an air of nobleness. The impenitent will say, "At
least I'm not being a hypocrite," but is there really anything
upstanding about remaining lost? Is there really integrity in
holding to sinful practices, as long as one is honest about his
lifestyle? Others will cite loyalty to long-gone relatives: "If
Grandma's religion was good enough for her, it's still good enough
for me." Loyalty to loved ones is, indeed, a splendid quality.
Judgment of their souls is in the hands of God, though. If one
finds the truth, remaining in error out of loyalty gains nobody
anything neither the admired nor the admirer.
Oh, that Christians may feel compassion similar
to Paul's. May such concern manifest itself in evangelistic action.
Oh, that those yet outside of Christ would realize the compassion
felt for them and humbly come to the Lord. 30 Tarrytowne, Washington,
WV 26181. andyrobison@juno.com