We’re Not Worthy
Nov 11 2022 - Adam Seitz
As a child of the 80s and 90s, I grew up watching Saturday Night Live. One of my favorite skits was Wayne’s World. Two wannabe rockers, living in their mom’s basement, with long hair, ripped jeans, and catch phrases only a teenager could love. The skit eventually became a movie (like every SNL skit in the 90s) and lives on today through GIFs and memes. One of the funniest scenes in the movie was when Wayne and Garth meet one of their idols, a famous rocker, who invites them to hang out. They immediately drop to their knees and say: “We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy, we’re scum.” It’s a classic scene that still makes me laugh today.
Once you place your faith in Jesus—that He is the way, the truth, and the life—something amazing happens. Jesus takes our sin and, in exchange, we are given His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21). What does this mean? It means that when God looks at you, He doesn’t see your sin, which is now as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Instead, when God looks at you He sees Jesus’ perfect life—a life unstained by any sin. A life lived perfectly according to God’s standards. Our problem is that when we inevitably sin again.
It would be a wonderful thing if the corruption of sin left our bodies the moment we placed our faith in Jesus. But it doesn’t. We will continue to sin until the day we die (though hopefully we sin less and less as we become more and more like Jesus). Some sins that have beset us since we were young will continue to call us like the Sirens’ song beckoned ships into the reef. Often, Satan will use the sins of a believer to plant seeds of doubt in your mind about God’s love for you, making you think “I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy!” These thoughts will at times lead you into a spiritual depression as Satan tempts you to wonder whether your sins were too big for God. But take heart! God knew you would walk through the spiritual wilderness like this and has given us the encouragement we need.
In 1 Timothy 1:15-17, we see Paul reflecting on his unworthiness of God’s love:
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Whatever sins continue to trouble you, they probably don’t hold a candle to Paul’s sins against God. Paul persecuted Christians, threw Christians in jail, and even participated in the murder of Christians. He was on his way to Damascus threatening to murder more Christians when God knocked him off his donkey and forever changed Paul’s life. It is with good reason that Paul says “I am the worst” sinner. Paul was at a spot in his ministry where he could easily have sunk into depression about his past sins but, instead, he gives all believers the encouragement they need as they fight and struggle with sin:
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Don’t read over this too quickly! Paul reveals a beautiful fact of who our God really is. Paul tells us that it was because of how bad a sinner he was that he was shown mercy. Why in the world would God do that? So that God’s “immense patience” would be displayed as an example to us. Can you even begin to imagine that kind of patience? I can’t. I have three kids who repeatedly show me how little patience I actually have. And when they do the same stupid thing over and over again? Well, then I learn I have no patience at all. But God! He shows us His love through His immense patience and gives us this beautiful piece of scripture as a reminder of His love and patience for us when we struggle through those dark times.
One final thought on the posture of our heart in response to God’s immense patience and loving kindness towards us. We should follow Paul’s example as he pours his heart out in thanks to God:
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Garth and Wayne were 100% right. We are not worthy of a God like this! We are not worthy of a love like this! And we are not worthy of the patience He extends to us every single day. But, here we are with a God who really is that great! How could we do anything but turn our thoughts, words, and deeds heavenwards to praise Him and give Him all the glory!