Footprints of a Pilgrim with Peace, Joy and Contentment

Folly of man: I would have been a devil’s incarnate without God’s Grace.

O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much about man’s creaturely

power and goodness, when, if Thou didst not hold me back in every moment

I should be devil incarnate. This by bitter experience,

Thou has taught me concerning myself.

Valley of visions

John Calvin stated that true and sound wisdom consists of two linked parts: the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves. The only people ever look at who we truly are and say to ourselves:

What a wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬ ‭

I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭19‬. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 1 Timothy 1:15

The only people ever come to the Christian faith with that understanding alone find joy, peace and contentment. Most of us including myself did not come to faith with that understanding. My parents raised me in church and grew up some understanding of the Bible, the fear of burning in hell and be in heaven when I die had more impact of my Christian faith. What I needed to hear was: I am a filthy sinner, there is nothing in me worthy to be called a child of God. I can help all the old ladies cross the street, send money to every cause that know how to instill guilt in me. Paul called all of it: dung. Other Bible translators called: worthless, garbage, rubbish, filth, refuse. A faith that is not based on our utter unworthiness to please God is a faith very similar to to Pharisee prayed in the temple: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice week and give a tenth of all I get”. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

This is collection in that journey from Pharasee to tax collector’s faith. Nothing to boast but God’s grace is more than sufficient.