The current world record holder for the high jump is Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, who jumped an incredible 2.45 m (8 ft 0.25 in) – a very impressive feat (for the feet)! In fact, he set this record back in 1993 – the longest standing record in the history of the men's high jump.
So let’s say, for example, that I am able to high jump 3 feet, you jump 6 feet, and the best jumper in the world jumps 8 feet. That’s all fine and well, and you might feel pretty good about yourself…until you find out that the goal was actually to jump from earth to the sun! You see, from the sun, even the world’s greatest high jumper’s efforts are completely and utterly insignificant.
So goes our futile efforts to ‘earn’ our way into righteousness here on earth. Whether you are living "better than" the guy next to you means as much as the 8 ft. high jump compared to a 3 ft. high jump here on earth, when viewed from the sun. You can keep jumping from here to eternity, but there is no possible way in our human efforts to reach the goal.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Do you judge a homosexual for their sin, but then lust after women other than your wife? Do you judge the adulterer but then spew hateful words or gossip about those you disagree with? We all sin - it isn't as if any of us are in some righteous high place to look down at others.
As believers, the only ones we are ever expected to judge are other believers – and even then we must remember that we stand condemned ourselves without the Blood of Christ, and that our only goal in any judgment of a brother or sister is to bring them to repentance, and back into the covenant relationship with God and others.
Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? (Romans 2:3)
Before you judge another for their lame vertical leap, remember the goal is the sun (or in our case, the goal is the Son)!
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
#LoveMatters