Ain't No Flies on Jesus

It was the summer after my freshman year of college and I was visiting with a friend of mine who lived near Penn State University. He took me to the campus and while checking it out we walked through a tunnel under a highway. The walls were covered with graffiti, most of it, the usual stuff. But there was one piece of art work that has held a permanent place in my memory. It was a life-size drawing of a man in a tuxedo wearing high-top tennis shoes that were untied. Around this man several flies were buzzing. The drawing was impressive. But more impressive were the words that accompanied it:

“Da’s flies on you
And da’s flies on me
But da ain’t no flies on Jesus
Jesus saves.”

Often times, as in-spec-tors, we quickly notice the speck in another’s eye while paying no attention to the board that is protruding from our own. (See Mark 7:3, Luke 6:41) Part of this phenomenon probably comes from our belief that our faults are minuscule and the faults of others are monumental. Biblical writers, however, make no such distinction. James says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). Paul tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3:10) and, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yep! Da’s flies on all of us but thank God da ain’t no flies on Jesus. The perfect Lamb of God can remove those flies through His saving grace.

And may we show that same attitude of grace toward others that we want the Lord to show toward us.