You’re Not Unique.

IMG_4298In today’s world uniqueness and individuality are praised and encouraged ad nauseam. You can be anything you want to be, do whatever makes you happy, or as the Fleetwood Mac song says “You Can Go Your Own Way.” I really have no problem with being unique, but sometimes I think our hearts aren’t in the right place. What are we really trying to prove by standing out from the crowd? Have our personal preferences and unique personalities become the only thing people see when they see us? Sports, hobbies, games, relationships and everything else we spend time on sure shine a light on what’s truly important to us. Making yourself happy isn’t unique at all. In fact it’s the gold standard in this world of sin and selfishness.

Growing up, I thought I was unique. Upon starting high school I started listening to rap music, wearing baggy clothes, and talking like an idiot. I didn’t want to conform to what everyone else in the small North Dakota town I grew up would describe as the norm. Luckily for me the fear of my father kept me from doing anything really stupid. My parents would probably have described me like parents today would describe their “unique” kids. “He’s a good kid.”  “He’ll grow out of that.” “It’s just a phase.” The problem with my uniqueness was that it was not unique at all. I wasn’t unique and neither are you. In trying to be unique I was really only thinking of myself and what I wanted. I was and still am truly a son of Adam. Born into sin; I just can’t help myself. I want to do things my way and I’ll be damned if I let anyone tell me I can’t do something.

I know what you thinking. “So you’re saying that wearing certain clothes, listening to certain music, or enjoying the many great things God has given on this earth is sinful?” I’m no Pietist but in this world of sin it doesn’t take much for things to go from hobbies to coveting to breaking of the 1st commandment. I regularly buy a $3.00 cup of coffee instead of giving money to the homeless. I love coffee more than my neighbor. I love watching my favorite television shows more than I love reading Word of God. I’m a damn sinner. The world will embrace your sinful uniqueness as your own “personal choice”. You can’t trust the world to judge things correctly. You can’t trust yourself to make the proper decisions on your choices in life. The devil is in your ear 24/7. He knows the things you want and the things you want to spend your time on. The world, the devil and your sin are a perfect combination for making bad choices.

Enter in the Word of God. The Holy Bible is truly unique. This true and perfect Word of God teaches and strengthens us in our lives here. The law condemns us of our sinful drive to be unique apart from Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ assures us that we are forgiven because of his perfect uniqueness. In this world, we are not unique. In Jesus Christ, we are unique. He takes all our sins to the cross. Our individual forgiveness is unique. As redeemed children of God we are unique in our father’s eyes. Through faith in Jesus Christ we are all unique. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is unique. Our salvation is unique because our savior is unique. Jesus Christ is all the uniqueness we need.

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