Ever had one of those dreams where you are desperately trying to run toward or away from something and you … just … can’t … seem … to … move? That’s the feeling I get inside every time I hear newscasters talk about the drought we’ve been experiencing around here for … forever, it seems.
I was playing golf recently and noticed that the ponds on the course (those dreaded pools of despair that insidiously inhale my golf balls) were full of water again, after months of shrinking depths. But later that same day I heard the T.V. news guys discussing how recent rains were good, but not enough. They were flashing depressing statistics on the screen to illustrate how much water we’re still lacking.
So, when does a drought stop being a drought? It seems to me that we’re so far behind now that we’ll never catch up, so what’s the point of talking about it? If we were to get enough rain to end the drought, we’d have to grab life jackets and board our arks.
For the rest of our days, are we going to have to hear about how much rain we need to make up for the years of drought we’ve experienced, even though things are green again? Boy howdy, I hope not. It’s like running a race you can never win. Mr. Drought will always be a few steps ahead.
It reminds me of the kind of depressing condemnation many Christians live under. “You’ll never be good enough, so what’s the use in trying? But just so you won’t forget how hopeless you are, let’s itemize your sins.”
I’d hate to imagine what it would be like if my sin “tally” was broadcast on the T.V. news each night …
“Well, Bob, that sure was nice for Mary Ann to fix a meal for that family with the new baby … And it’s really wonderful that she’s leading that Bible study at her church, but let’s take a hard look at the statistics. Ouch – this has been a good stretch for her, but I don’t think she can catch up — there’s just too much stuff over there on the sin side.”
Sound silly? Oh, really?
“What’s the use in praying? I’ve messed things up so badly, God doesn’t want to hear from me. … Why should I study my Bible? I can’t seem to do what it says to do anyway … What’s the use in trying to work this marriage out? … I’ve been a lousy parent – why try?”
The Apostle Paul knew how it feels to be in a “drought.”
“For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish … Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7)
Paul is feeling bad here – like his spiritual pond is dry and there are no clouds in sight. Ah, but listen to the rain begin to fall in the very next verse: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! …There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
There’s a huge deficit between our sins and God’s righteousness. Maybe you need to hear this: We can’t catch up … and it’s okay. Jesus did it for us. He brought the rain – a downpour of grace – and the drought is over for all who embrace that truth.