This has been a rough week at work. We were told the State was coming  to audit our client files. That meant long hours during the day checking that everything was in the files that was supposed to be there. And also balancing that off with keeping up with the daily work. As a supervisor, it also meant a weekend with very little sleep. Just ask my wife. But I did find out I can fall sound asleep on our computer chair at home without falling off.

We have not yet found out the results of the audit, but I am sure there are areas in which we have fallen short. Whether it is a missing or outdated form, some information entered incorrectly, or poorly written notes, in some way we will be told that our work has not met the standard set by those with whom we negotiated our contract.

In many ways, as a supervisor, I am the one held responsible for those shortfalls. I know that the work is not perfect. It cannot be; as all work here on earth is always produced by imperfect workers or by machines designed by those same imperfect humans. That is not an excuse for any mistakes but a reality. The other reality is that I will still be held responsible.

How about God? Will I someday stand in line with everyone who has ever lived on this earth waiting for the results of his audit? God demands perfection from all the  results of his audit are already in: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. So by all human standards I failed the audit.

But there is more to that passage. It goes on and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Jesus died for all of my sins. He met the demand of perfection. My life no longer needs to be sinless. Heaven is now open to me. So now I can go on, living as I want, knowing all of my sins are forgiven.

Well, if indeed I know what Jesus did for me and go on living my life anyway I want, if I ignore the rest of what God’s word tells me, then I need to wonder about exactly where my heart is. Peter said in Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

To repent is to admit there is still sin in my life even though I am a Christian. To repent means I know that sin has no place in my life because of what Jesus has done for me. If I choose to ignore repentance, I am denying the sin in my life and the need for a Savior. Then I am back to needing to be perfect in all I do. And that is impossible.

Every day I need to come to my Savior and throw myself on his mercy knowing my sins continue. I need to confess my sin, ask for forgiveness and then live knowing there is never a moment in my life I do not need a Savior. And the only way I can do that is by letting God be God, trusting his control in my life and his never-ending love for me.

When my life as a Christian is put under the microscope, I may feel the urge to look to the sins of others to minimize my own. In doing do, it is so easy for me to dull the need I have for a Savior to be in charge of my life. The video below is by spoken word poet David Bowden. I have to admit it took me a while to embrace his ministry style, but a ministry it is. What drew me to this “poem” was the line “If we act like we have no sin, we live like we need no Savior.”

The more I look at my life and find those times when I lived like I do not need a Savior, the more I am reminded of all that Jesus has done for me. I see his selfless act of love and the more I know what the response needs to be.

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. Take My Life Francis R. Havergal

Hope you come back some time. I will wait you.