Weighed

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. (Job 31:6 KJV)

Job knew he had lived a good life, yet he lost all things material, even his children.  His friends were sympathetic, but continually searched for the thing, the error, the sin that had brought down God’s wrath upon him. Job also knew there was nothing to confess.

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27 KJV)

Belshazzar’s life did not match Job’s. Without asking for it, his life had been weighed – and found that he simply did not measure up.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. (Ephesians 6:8 KJV)

Paul was writing to Christ’s followers, explaining some of the greater good they could be doing in His name. Some today look upon this verse and say, “I’m as good as [insert the name of any Christian] so I’ll receive of the Lord!”  Careful – that same author wrote:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

We simply cannot be good enough on our own. Also, calling ourselves Christian is insufficient. Paul knew of specific examples:

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:18-19 KJV)

I’ve listened to people justify a specific sin as “not being as bad as” another.  Unfortunately, lies are as bad as murder, according to:

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8 KJV)

I can hear the question being raised, right now – “Are you telling me that lying is as bad as killing someone?”
No, I’m not. The Bible is. It also tells us we cannot measure up.  A little earlier in chapter 3, Paul quotes Psalms 53:3:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12 KJV)

So – what’s available to us?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

That’s what it is all about. From Job's life through John’s to yours and mine. God’s grace. What an unspeakable gift.