When The Mirror Is Too Close

- Read Romans 2

Last week we sought to address the question, “What happened to America”, What happened to my country. I believe most of us can admit that the second part of Romans 1 is a pretty fair description of what America looks like today.

Look there again at Romans 1:28.

- Read Romans 1:28-32

I think that is a pretty fair description of our country, especially when you include the preceding paragraph. And I find comfort in the fact that all through that passage Paul says, “They”, did this and “they did that.” But then we get to chapter 2 and verse 1 and Paul changes from “they” to “You”.

We need to remember that when Paul wrote this letter, there were no chapter divisions. This letter wasn’t broken up into verses. It was one long letter, like people used to write to one another.

I think many of us can sit in the stands and cheer Paul on as he describes what those people are doing, and what’s coming for them.

Paul says, “They did all of this” so “You”, or he’s speaking to me, They did all of this, so you, Gene, are without excuse, because you sit and judge them. Gene, you have done the same things they are doing.

I think a lot of us good, moral, religious, people, are surprised to find that God does not think as highly of us as we sometimes think of ourselves.

Yeah, Gene, they have done all of this, so you are without excuse because you judge them.

And I start spitting, and stumbling over my words as I try to come up with excuses for my little mistakes. I say, “Lord, I’m NOT like them. And He answers, “Gene, how did I describe them in Romans 1:29? I called them gossips. Have you ever done that?” Well, yes, but . . .” “As a matter-of-fact, sometimes you still do. You just try to disguise it as a prayer request. How duplicitous is that? I called them slanderers. Have you ever done that? Well, Yes, but that’s different.” “I called them arrogant and boastful.” Have you ever been like that? Ah, yes Sir. Sometimes I still am.” “I said they disobeyed their parents. Were you ever like that?” “Yes Sir. Many times.” Then what makes you different than them?

I cannot say what you are like, I can only use myself as an example. As a practiced, self-righteous hypocrite, I find it a bit disconcerting when God holds a mirror up to me too closely. Why is it that we are so angered by other peoples’ sins, while excusing our own?

I. WHY WE IGNORE OUR OWN SINS

1. We are often blind to our own faults.

We live in an age when people claim that we need to be true to ourselves. True to yourself? What does that even mean?

> Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?

No, I am often blind to my own faults, faults that others can see.

I stand before you as a drug-smuggler. Uncaught, unconvicted, but a drug smuggler none the less. Marc and Bindu are visiting Niagra Falls, which reminded me of this.

Several years ago, Gladys, Drew and I borrowed Jack and Orlia’s pop up camper. We went on a vacation up the east coast, and over to Niagra Falls, the creation museum and such. On our trip, we picked up 2 girls and a German Shepherd who were hitch-hiking. The inside of my truck was full, so they rode in the back. We gave them a blanket and such. They probably rode with us 500 miles or so before they got out.

A couple of days later we crossed the Canadian border to see Niagra Falls from the Canadian side. After we got back, I was cleaning up and rearranging things in the bed of the truck when I found a marijuana cigarette, a joint in the bed of the truck. I did like like many of you would have done.

Yelling, “DREW, what is this and where did it come from?” He came over, confused and perplexed. We finally remembered our hitch hikers and figured they must have dropped it, and in the dark they were unable to find it. And I, blindly, had carried that thing both ways across the Canadian border. Blind to the crime I was unknowingly committing.

How many of us have critical, judgmental spirits we do not see in ourselves? How many of us are proud, or gossips, and don’t even recognize those things in ourselves?

I am blind to my own faults.

2. We try to forget what we have done wrong

Do you remember when king David slept with his neighbor’s wife, got her pregnant, and then had her husband killed to cover his sin?