Close Enough

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV).

 

In a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders in 2017, a referee used an index card to determine whether the ball was “close enough” to declare a first down. To say it was a controversial call is perhaps the understatement of the professional football world that year. Half the folks were happy and half were very unhappy about it. And, you are already thinking, what does this have to do with Lent? Well, think about it a bit. How many times have we used the old common wisdom of “close enough”? We often evaluate our actions based on being “close enough.”

 

I remember a story told by Pastor Ken Klaus some years ago. It seems a friend of his who worked in the insurance industry told him of a lady who received $1,200 to compensate her for the loss of her diamond ring. Not unsurprisingly, four weeks later she found the missing ring stashed away in the back of a cupboard. Glad for the ring, she wrote to the insurance company and confessed, "I didn't think it would be right for me to keep the ring and the money, so I thought you would be pleased to know I have sent the $1,200 to the Red Cross." Well… I suppose you could say the lady had done the right thing… almost. She hadn't kept the money. That was right, and she did tell the insurance company about finding the ring. That was right, too. But sending the money to the Red Cross, even as fine an organization as it might be, well, that was not quite right.

So much of the time we miss the mark of “doing good to everyone” (v. 10), our selfishness and our natural propensity to sin guarantees that failure. This is why we need Jesus. Because He is the Son of God, Jesus was perfect in his character and behavior. This very fact is the essential element in his sacrificial death on our behalf.  

We need to recognize our short-comings. We cannot live life as if it is a game of horseshoes or darts (you know… close counts in those efforts). We should move ever forward in our desire to grow in Christ, becoming more mature and conscious of our actions each day. While perfection is never possible this side of heaven, growing more and more like Jesus is. That’s our goal. Confess you failures. Receive forgiveness. Move on with the knowledge that allows you to be stronger next time.