16. “Where Do We Begin, The Rubble Or Our Sins?”

2013...

In 2013, many of us experienced uncontrollable loss and heartache which inevitably spiraled its way into, what felt like, spiritual and emotional ruin. For some of us, we were the captains of our own misery – willfully destroying relationships and hurting loved ones on our path to self-gratification. In either case, 2013 left us feeling as though the walls of our inner-being were crumbling, leaving us devastated and vulnerable. We've been left shaking our heads and asking “what are we to do in 2014?”

Pompeii...

Bastille is an alternative rock band from Great Britain that released a hit single in February of 2013 called “Pompeii” (which you're most likely familiar with, as it has topped the charts in Britain, Italy, and America). The inspiration for this chart-topping song was the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.This ancient city, which was home to approximately 20,000 people at the time of its demise, was destroyed in 79 AD as “Grey clouds roll over the hills bringing darkness from above” in the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Bastille's song, which is enamored with powerful spiritual allegory, asks the question “where do we begin, the rubble or our sins?” For many of us, we don't know where to begin this new year – the rubble of our broken hearts or the ugly reality of our personal sin?

Ancient Truth For a New Year...

In 2014, the starting place for all of us is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here, we are confronted with the actuality of humanity’s predisposed condition to commit willful acts of treason against the sovereign God of the universe - sin. Following Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden of Eden, rebellion against God spread to the entire human race. Humanity was plagued with a sinful nature that has caused you and I to willfully hate God (Romans 5:12, 3:11-18). Because of our hatred toward God, which daily manifests itself in our lives as disobedience, rebellion, and irreverence, we have become enemies of God. As enemies, you and I deserve the just penalty for our treason which is the severe wrath of God. This is a dreadful disposition, as the Bible describes the wrath of God in the following way; “In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Flaming fire, vengeance, punishment, and eternal destruction are all terrifying descriptions. However, God, in an act of great mercy, chose to execute his wrath on his perfect and completely obedient son, Jesus Christ. John Calvin called this “the penal, substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ”, meaning Jesus Christ, who was innocent, stood in the place of guilty sinners like you and I and withstood the wrath of God that we rightfully deserved to experience. This substitutionary work was accomplished on Calvary, where Jesus Christ was crucified on behalf of those he came to save from God's wrath. He was executed, buried, and then resurrected from the dead three days later. According to the Bible, anyone, who by faith, repents of their sin and believes Jesus Christ died and suffered under the wrath of God in their place, is justified by God and is no longer considered an enemy, but a child of God. As for those who do not believe and act upon these truths, their fate is the eternal wrath of God – “Grey clouds roll over the hills bringing darkness from above” (2 Thessalonians1:8). But for the one who embraces these truths, they can embark upon a new year with the joy of new life and the hope of a secure future in Christ.

For those of us who experienced suffering and loss this past year, we can take hope in the promise that God is working all things (especially our loss and suffering) for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28-30). We have this promise because of what Christ accomplished on the cross for us, suffering under God's wrath in our place and giving us his very own righteousness. Instead of beginning the new year in confusion and disarray, we should embrace the gospel and trust in God's sovereign purpose in using our circumstances to shape and mold us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Kasey