WE WON!

Another gem from THE MAN's much older (and wiser?) brother has arrived! With all his guest posts, perhaps we will have to find a slightly shorter blog name for him? Fresh off the press....

THE RUGBY WORLD CUP AND IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS...

I was watching the nail biting final of the Rugby world cup last night. It was France vs New Zealand in a game that could have been anybody’s right down to the last two minutes. But there can be only one winner, and with a score of 8 – 7, New Zealand took the trophy!

 Our local neighbourhood began to party. There was music, drinks, good times and fireworks. Lots of fireworks. People must have stockpiled the stuff from last Guy Fawkes, there was so much of it going off. Drunken chanting of - “New Zealand, New Zealand” could be heard and no doubt similar celebrations were happening all over the country. We won! And at that moment, we were all proud to be kiwis.

 But if truth be told, most of us, with our unfit selves and slight heaviness wouldn’t have had a chance against the strong French scrum. We would probably have passed out after just 20 minutes of running up and down the field and being elbowed in the ribs and kneed in the groin. If it were up to us, there would have been zero chance of a win. In fact we probably would’ve lost the first game, let alone made it to the final.

 That’s where the mighty All Blacks come in. The press will say “New Zealand Won!” but the country didn’t actually do anything. It was those 15 men who represented the rest of us. They were the ones who broke through the strong defense. They were the ones who held back the strong offence. They were the ones who scored the try and the penalty kick needed to win the game. All we could do was watch and cheer them on, and yet we somehow receive the glory. New Zealand wins! The All Blacks represented us, and we all receive the spoils!

In Christianity this is known as ‘Imputed Righteousness’. A big fancy term that just means – Jesus won the game for us! God’s standards are high. He expects us to be perfect; to never sin; in short - to love God above everything else, and to love others more than we love ourselves. If we are honest then we know we are unfit for the kingdom of God. We don’t have a chance. The sin team is wiping the floor with us.

That’s where the mighty Jesus steps in! He lived a perfect life, never sinning once. He kept God’s law completely and is the only person fit for the kingdom of God. But here’s the good news: Jesus did this to represent us! He did it all. All we can do is watch and cheer Him on, but we receive the spoils. Bible scholars say it this way: His righteousness has been ‘imputed’ (or given) to us.

 So, let the partying begin. Turn up the music and break out those old fireworks you have leftover from last years Guy Fawkes! In 100 years no one will care who won the 2011 Rugby World Cup but the partying will still be going on in heaven celebrating what Jesus won for those who trust in Him.