Live Like You've Won

“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the son of man [that] layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” (Isa 56:1-2 AV)

The only difference between the Jewish nation and the church where it concerns the moral and civil law is when salvation happens.  For the Jewish nation, salvation was future.  For the church, it happened in the past.  But salvation is still by grace through faith.  Regardless they were looking forward to it, or we are looking back on it, salvation to all is the same.  Therefore, the commandment to keep judgement and do justice was not to succor their salvation.  It is not by works.  It is all by faith.  The point is the same that can be applied to us today.  If salvation is by faith, then we keep the law because we are saved (or in the case of Israel, will be saved), not to make us saved.

When I was a boy, we entered this contest called the Pinewood Derby. We would carve out race cars from a block of pine.  Then we would race against other boys.  Imagine if the outcome was guaranteed.  No matter what I did to my car, it would be the fastest.  How would I work on the car?  Some would do nothing with it.  They would place an unworked block of wood at the top and gather their trophy at the bottom.  Even if it took all day for it to get there.  But must boys wouldn’t.  If they knew the outcome was to win the race, it would motive them to be as creative and industrious as they could and put forth the best car they could because in the end, they do not want their car to be an embarrassment to the guaranteed first place trophy.

This is the motive for following the law.  We have already won.  Salvation is guaranteed.  Our motive for righteousness is the goal of reaching Christlikeness as closely as we can before the final and full transformation takes place.  We do not want to be an embarrassment to the one who will grant our rewards at the judgment seat of Christ!  Keep the law, for our salvation is nearer than when we believed.