A Moment of Victory – “An Amazing Record”

What’s the most amazing record your ears have ever encountered?

Maybe it’s that Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 consecutive games in Major League Baseball as a Baltimore Oriole. 

Or it’s that Emil Ilic of Macedonia listened to the song, “Si Bastasen Un Par De Canciones” by Eros Ramazotti, non-stop, 413 times in a row in 36 hours, during his 126 mile-long non-stop walking marathon.  He holds the world’s record for “Listening to the Same Song.”

Or it’s the, “Bee-Wearing Record.”  A Chinese man in Tai ‘an City, China had 1,001,000 bees covering his body at the same time.  He smoked a cigarette while accomplishing this feat and endured over 2,000 bee stings in the process.

How about this record?  The LORD God Almighty has recorded each one of your sins.  All greedy desires – tallied.  All dishonorable thoughts – tallied.  Each lie is added to the count.  So is every moment of weakness, and any angry word you’d like to have back.  And it all belongs to YOU!  That’s an amazing record, is it not?  It’s an amazing, terrible, and embarrassing record. 

Today’s Bible verse announces, “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. (Psalm 130:3-4).”   If the LORD only kept a record of our sins, and there were no other options, wouldn’t we all tremble?  And cower?  And crumble?  But there is another option!  The LORD has kept a record of your sins…and attached it to Christ’s name.  Jesus died to win your forgiveness.  You have a clean slate before God!  You have nothing but holiness behind your name! 

There are many amazing world records out there.  But here’s the most amazing: in Christ alone, a lifetime’s worth of your sinfulness has been wiped clean. 

Prayer: In hopelessness and near despair, I cry to you, my Savior!  My guilt is more than I can bear.  I have not earned your favor.  You know me as I really am – how much is truth, how much is sham.  Why should you heed my pleading?  I tremble as I feel your hand, expecting retribution.  Yet – here no curse or reprimand, but grace and absolution!  With you, there is forgiveness, Lord; you speak the sweet, consoling Word, and I am sure you love me!  Amen

Note – today’s prayer is two verses from the hymn, “In Hopelessness and Near Despair.”  This hymn is  written by Jaroslav Vajda, and is based on Psalm 130.  Vajda’s hymn is also a recasting of Martin Luther’s great penitential hymn, “From Depths of Woe I Cry to You.” 


Nathan Buege
Pastor, Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church
Katy, TX