I’d Rather Do It Myself
by Conrad Jensen
T h e p u n c h l i n e of a TV commer cial has apparently made a hit with a lot of people. At least one song - uses the line for its title and quite a few jokes have been built around it. The line is I’D RATHER DO IT MY SELF! with the emphasis on the last word. Inadvertently, I am sure, this little phrase has pointed up a tremendous human urge. No doubt the “do-it- yourself” ingredient in human nature is responsible for many great and wonderful things. At the proper mo ment, after sufficient schooling and the building up of a certain amount of courage, the novice “does it him self.” Success brings with it a certain thrill. Even in little ones we find this joy expressed when Johnny declares with real pride, I tied MY OWN shoes.” In every field this spirit is com mendable—with one exception. God’s laws, whether natural or spiritual, cannot be circumvented. A man may jump from a roof-top time and again to defeat the law of gravity until he is crippled or killed, but his effort is wasted. He cannot defeat this natural law. We would sit in judgment on a man like this and call him a fool. Yet every day we come in contact with people who have determined they can approach God in their own way. However, God has set forth in the Bible an unmistakable spiritual law which says: “ But without faith it is impossible to
they hopefully trust the good will outweigh the bad. Still others, be cause of comparatively decent lives, believe they have made an attempt at keeping the Ten Commandments and will get by somehow. Probably no five words in the Eng lish language so typify man’s stub born, rebellious attitude to the claims of God. I’D RATHER DO IT MY SELF! Coming God’s way requires humbling! By nature man is anything but humble. Coming God’s way re quires confession! Here again man rebels. Coming God’s way requires rebirth. This, man calls foolishness. Yet Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious ruler of his times: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Ex cept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Friend, if you profess to believe in God you should be willing to listen to His Word. “ There is a way which seemeth right uiito a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). This is the DO IT YOURSELF way. How much better is God’s way: “Arid this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12). Will you receive the Son, or will it be I’D RATHER DO IT MYSELF? Available in printed form from the American Tract Society, Oradell, New Jersey. 17
please . him', for he that cometh to God MUST believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). In the account of the transfiguration we read that God spoke out of a cloud and said: “ . . . This is my beloved Son: hear ye him” (Mark 9:7). Jesus, in speaking to Thomas, said plainly: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). In spite of all this very plain lan guage, many people continue to seek other ways. The most common philos ophy is that God, being just, will not condemn someone who has tried to do good and lead a decent life. Others say they believe God will weigh their good and bad deeds on a scale and The author is Deputy Inspector, New York Police Dept., Retired, and is now Associate Director of Youth Develop ment, Inc. of New York City.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker