“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:22-24
What is a fundamental flaw? It is an issue that, if left unattended, chronically disrupts. It may be a home with a cracked foundation. There will be a flurry of home maintenance repairs until the underlying cause is corrected. You may have a relationship that cannot connect because of a root of distrust. Perhaps your business or ministry is unable to get traction because your economic model is not designed for reoccurring revenue. It’s fundamentally flawed. Thus you are saddled with an unsustainable financial strategy.
Fundamental flaws cause frustration and reek havoc, and, if not addressed, will always provide an undercurrent of dysfunction. What issues have you been too busy to address, or have been in denial because of the pain you feel when you think about them? Ignoring fundamental flaws will only lead you into greater pain and confusion. So whether they infiltrate an institution, or are instilled within an individual, they need alteration.
In human beings our fundamental flaw is sin. The DNA of our nature is damaged and undone. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—“ (Romans 5:12). We cannot deny our sinful state any more that we can reject our gender. It is who we are. However, in Christ we are free from sin’s snare and punishment. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Wise people deal first with their fundamental flaw of sin by faith in their Savior Jesus Christ. Once you are transformed by the redeeming power of the Lord you have everything you need to build a successful life. When you build on a foundation of faith, you are able to withstand the wiles of the devil and life’s indiscriminate challenges.
Avoid the common mistake of addressing the symptoms of fear, guilt, pride, greed and anger without receiving first the grace of God. You live the Christian life the same way you become a Christian, “by grace through faith”. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Do I experience God’s grace by faith in Jesus Christ? What fundamental flaw do I need to address in my life or work?
Related Readings: Psalm 51:5; Ezekiel 37:23; Luke 5:8; Romans 8:1-17
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
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