Is That Paint on Your Hands?
I read something the other day that made me recall an incident several years ago that had a large impact on many people here in our country. In the mid-90's, Michael Faye, an eighteen year old American student living in Singapore, was arrested along with a couple of his buddies. They were convicted of vandalizing eighteen vehicles with spray paint during a one-night, fun-filled romp through the darkness.
The punishment for this crime in Singapore was a wee bit harsher than the slap on the wrist he surely would have received had he been on American soil. Most of us had never even heard of the caning process of corporal punishment until the much publicized news of this young man's predicament hit the press. In case you still are unaware, this is the routine procedure.
The guilty party is stripped naked and made to bend over and his arms are fastened to an H-shaped trestle by straps. A protective covering is then placed over his kidneys. With a medical officer present, the caner winds up and, using his full body weight, delivers a blow with a one-half inch diameter rattan rod which has been soaked overnight to prevent it from splitting.
Each stroke on the exposed backside comes about thirty seconds apart to ensure that the canee retains consciousness throughout the ordeal. The flesh is ripped apart and much blood loss is a normal occurrence as a result of the blows. Clearly, the punishment is just as bad as the crime, and all the more so because it is calculated to inflict pain, measure by measure so the law breaker won't pass out or die on the "justice" system.
Faye himself had likely heard of this brutal punishment, but its reality obviously carried no fear into his young life until the law exposed his careless deeds and passed sentence, which included a fine: brief prison term, and six lashes of the cane.
Many Americans were outraged at the thought of such a severe sentence for what seemed like a relatively minor act in the grand scheme of things. President Bill Clinton even attempted to intervene with a plea for clemency, which fell on deaf ears; although the number of lashes to be given was reduced from six to four. Ultimately, the sentence was carried out and this young man left Singapore with a much greater awareness of the consequences of his actions.
Here's something to think about: What do you suppose would have happened if someone had been able to confront him before he involved himself in this foolish prank and explained to him how his thoughtless acts were going to affect many innocent people financially and emotionally? Do you believe it would have made an impact within his conscience? Probably not. He already knew what he was about to do was wrong, but he felt the cover of darkness was protection from the law. Even if it wasn't, what's the big deal in painting a few cars. People do a lot worse stuff than that. It's not like they were killing anybody. The problem with this thinking in Singapore is the fact that there is no such thing as a "little" crime and no one ever took the time to explain this to him.
So go back once again and imagine if someone had been able to confront Faye beforehand about his plans for that night, but with a slightly different approach. What if they had been able to give him front row seats to the caning process being carried out on other "minor" offenders of the law? Show him the destiny that awaits all who are willing to pay the price? Do you suppose this foresight would weigh in his decision when it came to planning his evening activities? The chances are good that it would have. As a matter of fact, you probably couldn't have stuck a can of spray paint in his hand if you used a whole roll of duct tape coated with super glue.
The first approach would have had little effect because it brought no fear of the rod of reproof; besides that, he didn't see his actions as worthy of serious consequences. This closely resembles the message that the modern gospel brings to the world: "Come to Jesus. He'll give you peace, joy, love, and true lasting happiness. God will heal your marriage, help your financial problems, and any other problems for that matter, and pretty much be your best friend."
While all of this sounds good, it's not the Scriptural gospel that is presented to sinners in the New Testament. This is a watered down message that is producing an eighty to ninety percent fall away rate and a professing church body that can hardly be distinguished from the rest of the world. One where only two percent share their faith on a regular basis.
Just take a look at the popular gospel tracts of this generation. There's no hint of Hell, no mention of Judgment Day, no use of God's law to bring the knowledge of personal sin, and the gospel is presented as a means of happiness instead of righteousness. No wonder today's "new" gospel won't stick. People are coming to Christ for the wrong reason. They're not coming to escape the wrath to come. Acts 17:30, 31 tells us that God calls us to repent because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness.
Sinners today have no fear of God because they are told He is kind, loving and merciful and He has a wonderful plan for their lives. They are told about the wonderful things that God does in a person's life and that they can experience life more abundant if they'll only come to the Savior. If you tell someone that, what will be your explanation to the trials and tribulations that scripture says is inevitable in a true believer's life? How about when they uncover the book of Acts and learn of the daily persecution that the apostles underwent along with their ultimate fate?
While it's true that God is loving, kind, and merciful, He's also a God of wrath and justice that is going to judge the world in righteousness, which is what we should be telling people. Only sharing the love of God with sinners is not Biblical in any way and will only create false converts who have no fear of God, and therefore lack repentance which leads to salvation. They have no reason to put down the spray paint can of sin and live a Godly life. Why should they? They don't see the consequences because no one told them. As far as they are concerned, they are as "good" as anyone else. They don't even believe they've done anything wrong for the most part. Surely not anything bad enough for God to send them to Hell.
Can you imagine the Singapore police bursting into that young man's apartment and arresting him without telling him what he did wrong? Or the judge sentencing him to time behind bars along with a fine and six lashes with the cane simply because he was guilty on the grounds that he was a youth and must have done something wrong because no one is perfect. Of course not. He was told exactly what his crime was and the law was going to make sure it wouldn't happen a second time.
Telling a sinner that "all have sinned" creates the same problem. You've done nothing to personalize his sin in his eyes. He doesn't see it as anything extreme enough to deserve Hell, that's for sure, so Christ dying on the cross for his sins never really hits home. The law must enter the picture first to expose the crime that was thought to be insignificant and done under the cover of darkness, and show that there is no such thing as a "little" sin.
Sin and its punishment must be preached before a person can receive the good news of God's forgiveness through the cross, and it's not very hard to do either. As a matter of fact, it's easier than trying to convince a person to come over to your side of the fence because the grass is greener. Here is a great example of what I'm talking about.
The other day I was at Wal-Mart and saw a lady (not an employee) that I had seen before and have even spoken to on a previous occasion. I made a point of saying hello to see if the door would open for me to start a conversation talking about everyday things that I would then use to swing to spiritual matters. Jesus did this very thing with the woman at the well. First the natural realm and then the spiritual.
A simple "hello and how's your day going so far" was all it took in this situation. She recognized me as the nice, kind, and humble man that had spoken to her a couple of weeks earlier, which prompted her to ask me what I did for a living, because it was the middle of the day when most people were at work and I obviously wasn't one of them. I actually was, but it just didn't appear that way, and that's the story I'm stickin' to. I told her that I actually had two jobs. I was into gas chromatography, and in about one minute I explained what that was, but that it wasn't near as interesting or as much fun as my second job. Of course she asked. Here's how the conversation went from there.
"Oh really! What do you do?"
I'm a Spiritual Health Advisor. I do it as a free service. Never charged a dime and I've had several hundred customers around the Houston area in just the last couple of years."
"What do you do?"
"You look like you're in pretty good condition. Do you get any exercise like running?"
"Not running, but I do walk a lot and watch what I eat most of the time."
"What's your name?"
"Karen."
"Nice to meet you, Karen. I'm Gene. Would you agree that we need to do what you just said if we want any kind of quality life?"
"Sure."
"There's only one minor problem with that program. All doctors agree with this statement: eat right, exercise, take care of yourself, die anyway. Ten out of ten die. You know, Karen, that more people care more about their physical health than they do about their spiritual health. They don't look at the fact that they'll be gone from this planet far longer than they'll be here. Have you ever thought about that?"
"Sure I have. Maybe not exactly like that though."
"Well that's my job. Do you have a Christian background?"
"I'm Catholic."
"Karen, I've learned the most incredibly simple way to self examine your own spiritual health; even a child could do it. It only takes a couple of easy questions. I'll show you an example. First I have to know something. Would you consider yourself to be a good person?"
After a little hesitation, "Sure."
"Ok then. Have you ever told a lie?"
"Yes."
"What would that make you?"
"A sinner."
"Let's be more specific. What would you call me if I told you a lie?"
She looked at me and grinned a little. "A liar."
"Have you ever taken anything and kept it, regardless of the value?"
"Yes."
"What would that make you?"
"A thief, I guess."
"Have you ever looked at someone with lust?"
"Yes."
"You know, Jesus said that you are guilty of adultery if you simply look with lust, because God sees our thoughts as well as our actions. So, Karen, by your own admission, you are a lying thief and an adulterer at heart, and you have to face God on Judgment Day, and mind you, we've only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. You've also added self-righteousness by claiming to be a good person when the facts don't really bear that out. If God judges you by the standard that you just admitted to, the Ten Commandments, do you think He'll find you guilty or innocent?"
"Well, if he judges me like that, I'll be guilty."
"Do you think you'll go to Heaven or Hell?"
A slight pause here as she weighs this out. "I thought I would go to Heaven, but I'm not so sure now. It looks like Hell maybe."
"Does that concern you?"
"Yes it does."
I then explained to her how God is not only a God of love, but of justice as well. I told her that Rev. 21:8 says that no liars can enter heaven, and 1 Cor. 6:9,10 tells us that no adulterers or thieves will either.
"Are you hoping, Karen, that God will overlook your sin on Judgment Day because of his love and mercy?"
"Yes."
Try that in a court of law, Karen. Imagine standing before a judge after being convicted of some serious crimes, and unless you can come up with a five million dollar fine, you'll be locked up for the rest of your life. Do you think the judge should let you go simply because he was a good person?"
"No."
"He'd be corrupt if he did, wouldn't he?"
"Yes."
"So going to Heaven doesn't look too good, does it?"
"No."
"Karen, You don't want to go to Hell, God doesn't want you to go to Hell, and I don't either. Do you know what God did so you wouldn't have to go to Hell?"
Another pause here. "No."
"God humbled himself and became a man, Jesus Christ, and died on the cross for your sins. It would be the same as someone walking into that courtroom and paying your five million dollar fine for you. Someone that you didn't even know. Jesus paid the fine for you because you couldn't. Even if you lived a perfect life from here on out, you would still have to pay the price for your past sins, right?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know how to receive the free gift of eternal life?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well, look at it this way. If you were on a plane that was going down and you had a parachute under your seat, would just believing it was under there do you any good?"
"No."
"Even singing songs to it on Sunday wouldn't help either, would it?"
A little laugh here. "No."
"You'd actually have to put it on for it to help you, and that';s exactly what the Bible says that we must do with Jesus Christ. Simply believing in Him is useless. Even the devil believes in Jesus. And I think you understand now that trusting in your "good person" status as your ticket to Heaven isn't such a good idea. You must put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the same way you would a parachute, and then repent of your sins. Turn away from your them. You won't be perfect, but God will give you a new power over sin and a desire to live for Him. Does that make sense?"
"Yes it does."
"We look about the same age; how long do you hope to live? What age?"
"I don't know. Maybe eighty or ninety would be nice."
"Do you think it's possible you could die tonight?"
"Yes I do."
"I'll leave you with this: Eternity is a long time to live without everything that is dear to you. Love, laughter, color, taste, light. Think about what Jesus did in that courtroom for you two thousand years ago. Go to Him and confess your sins. Ask for his forgiveness and put your trust in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to take your punishment for you. He's not interested in the words you use, but in your heart. And then repent of your sins. The moment you do this, the Bible says you will pass from death to life and God will grant you eternal life. Get a Bible and read it daily, and God will never let you down."
I thanked her for listening, and she was very grateful that I had taken the time to speak to her. I left her some information and also let her know how to contact me if she had any questions.
Psalm 19:7 says that "The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul." In Singapore when the law comes knocking on your door, you'd better have either a good alibi or a good lawyer. When God's law comes knocking, you'd have a better chance in Singapore.
For information on why today's church seems to be camouflaged with the rest of the world, go to my web-site at www.masterskeyministries.com and click on Liar, Liar Pants on Fire.
Thanks for taking the time. In Him, Gene