Echoes in Eternity

I am fully convinced of my own total depravity (i.e. that apart from God’s own initiation and empowering grace I am unable to do anything other than sin).
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Not only are our actions fallen and fickle, but our motives are as well. We are thoroughly wretched. Paul had a sense of this in Romans 7 when he proclaimed, “wretched man I am!” This, of course, isn’t to say that humanity (apart from Christ) is unable to do helpful things (I’ll deal with this in the “L” portion); however, I believe it is that case that we cannot do (apart from Christ) holy things. A woman donates the money necessary to construct a new wing for a hospital; that’s helpful. But what’s driving her donation? Paul states in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” In other words, any motive for doing anything (no matter how helpful) other than “for the glory of God” is selfish and sinful. How can one ascribe glory to a God he/she refuses to glorify as God? The intended trust of this proclamation and theological reality is not despair and depression; rather, this truth is to send sinners headlong into the unfailing love of Christ, who bore the penalty for our depravity.

The logical conclusion of Total Depravity is that not only are we unable to choose good, but we are equally unable to choose God. Our depravity is so horribly fallen that we cannot (or will not) seek the cross. We are too in love with sin, too in love with ourselves. This reality causes me to worship. I cannot (or will not) seek God, but He has sought me. This is why the incarnation is such a potent reality. Christ has come to us, claimed us and changed our hearts so that in Him, by His power, we can choose good, truth and beauty.