I recently finished listening to the audiobook of Saint Augustine's timeless work, The Confessions. I encourage all Christians and non-Christians to read (or listen to) this book at some point. It paints such an intimate portrait of the spiritual struggles of one of the greatest theologians of Church history. By showing us the depths of his depravity, Augustine puts a mirror to our own hearts so tainted by sin. One noted event in the book and in the life of Augustine is the infamous stealing of the pears. Augustine recounts a time in his youth where he and some friends were looking for kicks one night and ended up stealing pears from a stranger's pear tree. Finding them sub par, Augustine and his coterie of ne'er-do-wells proceeded to throw the fruit away.
Most people today, and I venture to say, most people then, view Augustine's antics as a harmless prank. Augustine, looking back on this event, saw much deeper spiritual implications. Why did he steal the pears? He could have bought plenty of pears of much higher quality by his own means. Did he steal because of a sense of camaraderie among his partners in crime? Well, somewhat, but what was the root of his action? Augustine came to the conclusion that it was the natural affection we humans have for sin itself. Sure, we all sin for the pleasure or benefit derived from our unrighteous action. We lust and commit fornication for the pleasure derived from sex (Augustine knew plenty about this as well, but that's a whole 'nother issue!); we cheat and steal for what money and filthy lucre can get us. However, the severity Augustine saw in his sin of stealing those pears was the utter pointlessness of the act. He derived no pleasure or gratification from the pears. He sinned for the sake of sinning. And we are no different. Augustine saw humans as riding a bucking bronco that was our sinful nature. We do not have hold of any reins but only a whip. We can only store up more sin and thereby store up more wrath for ourselves on the day of judgment.
BUT, God has graciously made a provision on our behalf. He has given us a way to dismount the stead, as it were: it is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Though by Adam sin entered into the world, in Christ, sin is conquered. In Adam all die; in Christ all live and live more abundantly. God demands moral perfection that no man can attain (no, not one). So, God sent His son to live the life we could not and die the death of a criminal thereby atoning for all the sins of those who would come to believe. Christ's shed blood washes all our sins away, and His righteousness is imputed to all those who believe so when God looks at us, He no longer sees our iniquity but rather sees the perfect righteousness of Christ.
To all those who do not yet rest in Christ, I earnestly exhort you to repent of your sins and believe the gospel. We Christians tend to wrongly cast our heroes of the faith as marble statues who know nothing of human frailty. Nothing could be further from the truth! Augustine knew and struggled with sins few church-going Christians can mention without blushing. Augustine's example shows us that God shows mercy upon whom He will show mercy. God at times chooses the worst and most wicked among us in order to accomplish His sovereign purposes. Augustine knew this first hand. That is why he did not boast or seek salvation through his own devices and neither should we. He sought refuge in Christ and Christ alone. As a Christian who struggles at times with assurance of salvation, I always look to the Cross for true peace and to the Word for true solace. I am reminded that God's promises to those whom He has saved are not "yes and no" but "yes and amen"!
Now, on a lighter note, here is Norm MacDonald talking about lying for no good reason. He makes a valid point that reflects Augustine's sentiments regarding the theft of the pears. The part about lying begins about 45 seconds in...Enjoy!
Most people today, and I venture to say, most people then, view Augustine's antics as a harmless prank. Augustine, looking back on this event, saw much deeper spiritual implications. Why did he steal the pears? He could have bought plenty of pears of much higher quality by his own means. Did he steal because of a sense of camaraderie among his partners in crime? Well, somewhat, but what was the root of his action? Augustine came to the conclusion that it was the natural affection we humans have for sin itself. Sure, we all sin for the pleasure or benefit derived from our unrighteous action. We lust and commit fornication for the pleasure derived from sex (Augustine knew plenty about this as well, but that's a whole 'nother issue!); we cheat and steal for what money and filthy lucre can get us. However, the severity Augustine saw in his sin of stealing those pears was the utter pointlessness of the act. He derived no pleasure or gratification from the pears. He sinned for the sake of sinning. And we are no different. Augustine saw humans as riding a bucking bronco that was our sinful nature. We do not have hold of any reins but only a whip. We can only store up more sin and thereby store up more wrath for ourselves on the day of judgment.
BUT, God has graciously made a provision on our behalf. He has given us a way to dismount the stead, as it were: it is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Though by Adam sin entered into the world, in Christ, sin is conquered. In Adam all die; in Christ all live and live more abundantly. God demands moral perfection that no man can attain (no, not one). So, God sent His son to live the life we could not and die the death of a criminal thereby atoning for all the sins of those who would come to believe. Christ's shed blood washes all our sins away, and His righteousness is imputed to all those who believe so when God looks at us, He no longer sees our iniquity but rather sees the perfect righteousness of Christ.
To all those who do not yet rest in Christ, I earnestly exhort you to repent of your sins and believe the gospel. We Christians tend to wrongly cast our heroes of the faith as marble statues who know nothing of human frailty. Nothing could be further from the truth! Augustine knew and struggled with sins few church-going Christians can mention without blushing. Augustine's example shows us that God shows mercy upon whom He will show mercy. God at times chooses the worst and most wicked among us in order to accomplish His sovereign purposes. Augustine knew this first hand. That is why he did not boast or seek salvation through his own devices and neither should we. He sought refuge in Christ and Christ alone. As a Christian who struggles at times with assurance of salvation, I always look to the Cross for true peace and to the Word for true solace. I am reminded that God's promises to those whom He has saved are not "yes and no" but "yes and amen"!
Now, on a lighter note, here is Norm MacDonald talking about lying for no good reason. He makes a valid point that reflects Augustine's sentiments regarding the theft of the pears. The part about lying begins about 45 seconds in...Enjoy!
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