In the closing scene of the movie, Saving Private Ryan, a movie in which several soldiers risked their lives to save a private named Ryan, a now elderly Mr. Ryan turns to his wife and says, "Tell me I've led a good life. Tell me I'm a good man." He was seeking reassurance that he did not take lightly what those soldiers had done for him so that he could make it home safely. As those men in that movie were dying in combat to protect him, a dying soldier pulled Ryan to him and said, "Earn this." In others words, Ryan did not deserve what those men did in dying to protect him. So from that point, his life ought to be lived in such a way as to honor the sacrifice of those men.
Mr. Ryan's plea to his wife reminds us to look inward and ask the same question. Are we leading a life that is pleasing to the One who gave His life for us? Those soldiers in the movie were doing their duty, and while their sacrifice was great, Jesus' dying for us is far greater. For one reason is because it was out of love, not duty. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Second, because He was no mere man, but God in the flesh. The only way we could avoid the penalty of our sins is if God Himself paid it for us (Romans 3:24-26). Third, because Jesus did not come to save our physical lives which will eventually die anyway, but to give us eternal life (John 3:16). Fourth, because we rightly stood condemned before God and were worthy of punishment, but Jesus came anyway (Romans 5:6-8).
Therefore, knowing what Christ did for us, the apostle Paul wrote, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4:1). Even though you and I could never "earn this," we are to lead a life that is "worthy" of Christ's sacrifice for us. How? Instead of living for self, we live to do the will of God. We live to please Him instead of ourselves. Then our joy will come from having the approval of God. That is a blessed life. Indeed, that is the very life that our Lord lived while He walked on this earth: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him (John 8:29). Walking worthy then is following in the footsteps of Jesus who left us an example.
But do you fall short from time to time in your walk? Though we may try, and we must, we can never truly walk worthy of our Lord and earn it. But instead of quitting, this should make us aware of how much we need our Savior. Jesus did indeed always please the Father and walked worthy of Him. If His blood covers our sins and shortcomings, then we can keep walking with God. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:6,7). So keep walking worthily even though you fall short, because the One who never fell short did "earn" our salvation. Only in Christ can we lead a good life. Without Him, it is impossible.
Brotherly, Jamie
