A Line, Not A Gulf

It's comforting to think that there is a great gulf between the 'good' and the 'bad' people of this world.

We can comfortably condemn the bad people, and comfortably excuse ourselves. We aren't as bad as them, simple as that. But there really is no gulf, in my opinion, just a thin line. People are people, a step away from being heroic, a step away from being villainous.

I agree with Malcolm Turnbull who yesterday said that in the midst of the Victoria bushfire's we have seen the best in people. We really have. One guy, though burnt, and having just watched everything he owned burn to the ground, spent the next six hours driving around looking for neighbours to help, looking for other homes to protect.

At the same time, looters have gone in to evacuated houses, taking this opportunity to prey on the weak, stealing from those who are teetering on the edge of great loss and devastation.

This is terrible, and we rightly condemn these people. Similarly, we rightly praise those who show such courage and selflessness. But we also need sober judgement to know our own place. How often are we selfless? How often do we do deplorable things, or at least scheme them in our hearts? How far are we really from taking a step this way or that?

When we puff up with pride in our own righteousness, that's when we lose balance and fall. When we know our sinful state and our desperate reliance on our powerful God, that's when we can stand firm, with an anchor for our soul.