To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. – Romans 2:7

Today's Scripture Reading (April 17, 2024):  Romans 2

Regardless of the sport, opening day is worthy of the celebration of the sports fan. It is the only day of the year when every team has a perfect record. It is a day when the dream of a championship is alive and well, and every team still has a chance to win it all. It doesn't take long for teams to begin to fall away and for other teams to make their bid to be the best; sports seasons are long, and the reality of sports is that every team will, at some point in the playing year, struggle, and begin to worry if they are really good enough. But on opening day, it is just the dream that seems to give a vibrant life to the sports fan.

Paul has talked about the Gentiles and the struggle that they have to suffer through because of their culture and the fact that they don't have the Law. Most of the Jews in Paul's audience would have been nodding their heads during that portion of the address. They knew that Jews had the advantage of the Mosaic Law, and because of the Law, the Jews held an advantage that the Gentiles didn't possess.

But Paul reminds them that they still have a problem. They would be fine if they could be perfect; if, through persistence, they could live according to the Law and choose to honor God and reject the ways of this world. But that wasn't the reality. Life is long, and we are bound to struggle at some point, just like a sports team. We choose what seems right to us instead of what seems right to God. We act selfishly instead of following the generous life to which we have been called. We fail to follow the way of truth and instead follow the way of unrighteousness.

What the Jews missed is that the Mosaic Law operates like a modern-day smoke alarm. A smoke alarm doesn't stop smoke, it simply tells us when smoke is present so that we have a chance to do something about it. The Law could never stop people from sinning, but it is designed to remind us when sin is present.

Perfection is beyond our ability. It doesn't matter who we are. The first two chapters of Romans simply build to a revelation that we already know.

"There is no one righteous, not even one;
    there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
      All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one" (Romans 3:10b-12).

It doesn't matter if we are Gentiles who live without the Law or Jews to whom the Law has been revealed. We need a new way. We need the way of Jesus.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Romans 3