"THE HOLY STANDARD!"

“Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a King then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a King.” (John 18:37).

”For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Cor. 5:21).

“One of the most dangerous features of this irreligious culture in which we live is its tendency to elevate cleverness above goodness. If only a man in his walk of life has a touch of genius, that, it holds, more than atones for any defect in his ethical standards. But this quite certainly is not the view of Jesus! Nor is it the view of any Christian who is taking Jesus seriously! It is surely a strange and discreditable idea that because a man happens to write better, or paint better, or make better poetry than his neighbor, he is automatically exempted from certain of the moral standards to which his neighbor is expected to conform. That is not only absurd; it is a dangerous heresy. For in the realm of culture, Jesus claims, and rightly claims to be King… It comes to this. Everywhere, in art, literature, the theater, music, ethics, politics, all society, our standard is to be the character of Christ, the most gifted of men, yet without sin, that all our efforts and all our conduct may be judged in view of His white, scorching purity.”

(James S. Stewart – Adapted.)

It is such a common idea, that a person with talent, exceptional skills, or some degree of genius is exempt from the rules of society and the laws of God! Thus the celebrities of our nation, idolized by the masses, because they can sing, act, write, accumulate wealthy, or get elected to public office, often have barnyard morals and engage in the most licentious practices, but are excused, applauded, and imitated by many!
In God’s eyes there is one law for all and Jesus is both the example and the King! No one is “great” and worthy of our adoration, no matter how gifted he or she may be, or how successful, if they are living in open violation and deliberate disregard of the standards of holiness revealed in God’s Word!
The bad thing about the worship of heroes, icons, and idols is that the worshiper eventually comes to be just like them! There is room for just one King in our lives. Let us worship Him alone. And then some day perhaps we will become just like Him!

Larry Atkin, Preacher