Polycarp: Christ Has Done Me No Wrong

Have you ever cleaned up something really grimy? My parents own a used car lot, and when I was growing up, sometimes I would do some cleaning around the shop to earn extra money. The office was never too bad, but the garage? You couldn’t even see the countertop! All you could see was oil, grease, and other gunk that piles up when you’re working on cars. It was so satisfying to wipe away all of that junk to reveal the nice countertop that had been there all along.

Sometimes, when we look at the world, it’s like looking at that countertop in the garage: all we can see is grime and grease. The world is caked in sin, suffering, and death—injustice abounds, hatred flourishes, and confusion reigns. It’s easy to think that the darkness is winning.

But the truth is, all sin will one day be blown away in the wind like it’s nothing—powerless. That’s what we see in Psalm 1:4—the brokenness of the world is like chaff, which is a part of wheat. It’s a thin skin that surrounds the wheat kernel. It’s pretty useless to humans, and part of the harvesting process includes throwing the wheat kernels in the air so the wind can blow away the chaff. Then, you’re left with the nutritious, life-sustaining wheat kernel.

That’s the hope Jesus brings. Even though the curse of sin has coated this good world in junk, Jesus has broken that curse permanently. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He defeated suffering and death, and He promises to return to blow it all away like chaff in the wind. Until then, we can rest in His goodness and participate in His kingdom-building work—including wiping grimy countertops. • Taylor Eising

• What are some injustices and hurts that you see in the world? You can bring these to God in prayer, knowing that He cares.

• How does knowing that Jesus will set everything right someday affect the way we live now?

• Any time we rely on the Holy Spirit to help us follow God’s call to care for creation (Genesis 1:28), love our neighbor (Mark 12:31), seek justice (Micah 6:8), or any of God’s other commands, we are participating in God’s kingdom-building work. We can do this in many ways—through jobs, relationships, school, ministry, and much more. What talents and passions has God given you? How can you use these for His kingdom?

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. Revelation 22:3 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Matthew 10:17-20; 26-31; Hebrews 12:2-3