DEVOTION - NOVEMBER 5, 2013
Daily devotion from Romans 3:20.
Through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 3:20
Look at the Picture
One night I couldn’t sleep. I stumbled
downstairs, turned on the television and began surfing through the channels.
And that’s how I found it. It was an old movie entitled, The Picture of Dorian
Gray. It’s a period piece set in the 1800’s. It’s based on a famous novel by
the same name. And in its own way, it’s one of the most frightening movies I’ve
ever seen.
Dorian Gray is a handsome young man who
also happens to be a fine, upstanding citizen. An artist has just painted
Dorian’s portrait. Dorian takes the picture home and hangs it on his wall.
As time goes on, two things happen. For
one, Dorian Gray begins to slide into a life of immorality. As he does, it
seems as though he never has to suffer any consequences for his behavior. But
the other thing that happens is truly chilling. It has to do with Dorian Gray’s
picture. He discovers that the more he drifts into immorality, the uglier his
picture becomes. Finally, the picture troubles him so much that he takes the
picture upstairs into the attic and covers it with a cloth.
Years pass. Dorian Gray has by now slipped
into a dark lifestyle of hedonism and apathy and cruelty. But again, it appears
as though he never suffers any consequences. In fact, even though many years
have passed, Dorian Gray looks as though he has not aged a day.
Then, one night, Dorian Gray decides to
look at his picture. He climbs the stairs, enters the attic, approaches the
picture, and pulls down the cloth.
It’s horrible. Grotesque. Monstrous beyond
description. From the attic of that house comes the sound of a scream and a
great crash. Then all is quiet.
To learn the end of the story you’ll need
to watch the movie (or read the book). But what the picture does for Dorian
Gray is much like what God’s Law does for you and me.
It’s easy for me to excuse my sin, make
light of it, and ignore it. I may even convince myself that putting myself
first in life is the only way to live. But then God’s Law summons me to look at
the picture – my picture. There I see the ugliness of my sin. There I see the
full view of my corruption. There I see the desperate lostness of my soul.
But the horror of my picture is not the
end. For now Jesus has come. His blood has washed me clean. The ugliness is
gone. Forgiveness and life have taken its place.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, move me to look into my picture
that God’s Law paints. Bring me to repentance. Wash me clean. And give me peace
and joy in you. Amen.
Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com
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