FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
When I graduated high school, I was off into the great wide open. I was going to college to earn a degree in political science, then it was off to Congress. After paying my dues in the House of Representatives, I would run for the Senate before eventually being elected President.

What I wound up doing was goofing off too much once I transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University.

wound up flunking out and getting married. (The marriage part was one of the best decisions, but many of the others were some of the worst mistakes of my life). As a result, my life has not turned out the way I planned it. I am not complaining about my lot. I am very blessed to be in the position I am in. The Lord continues to bless me daily. I suspect that each of us has a similar story. There are many whose lives have not yielded the expected results. Why?

Romans 2:14-15 states "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another."

Even in the absence of a preacher preaching against sin, people have a set of morals imbedded in their hearts, their consciences. From an early age, we learn right or wrong. The problem is, even when we set our own standard like this, we fall short (i.e. accusing or excusing one another).

As a result, we reap the consequences of our sin (in my case, flunking out and being forced to work at a convenience store).

To make matters worse, we can't stop sinning (at least, not on our own).

Romans 7:15 says "For that which I do, I allow not: for that I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do."

The writer of Romans (the Apostle Paul) was saying that he kept doing what he knew was wrong, and didn't do what he knew he ought to. What did he do?

Romans 7:16-17 says "I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

He consented that the law (God's Word) is good. He acknowledged his sin, confessed it to God, and purposed in his heart to quit it. As a result, God helped him overcome his sin. (Romans 7:25 "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.") Why was Paul thankful? Because God had delivered him from the body of sin's death (Romans 7:24).