internet explorer and the gospel

They know something about effective marketing. And part of what makes this ad so compelling to me is that they aren't denying their faults.

I'm tempted to react to my faults - to criticism - defensively. I get easily offended. In some ways, it's the reaction of someone in denial. If you put it more nicely, it is the reaction of someone who is afraid of being worthless.

But consider Internet Explorer 6. At one point, it was hugely popular. But as time went on, it became practically worthless. There were too many flaws, too many security vulnerabilities, too much rotten stuff going on. If Microsoft spent its time trying to revise it, they would be at work until the end of eternity debugging.

So Microsoft did what had to be done. They started over. And then they launched a campaign counting down the days until Internet Explorer 6 is completely eradicated from the planet (http://www.ie6countdown.com).

"The only thing that Internet Explorer is good for, at all, is downloading other browsers!"

Indeed, this is all we are good for.

All the patchwork, self-improvement, making much of our own gifts and talents - it is worth nothing. I spend a lot of my time at times trying to figure out how I can become a better person, but all that time comes at the expense of more time I could be pointing others to the better version of me. The perfect one.

"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

And Jesus is the perfect version of man. He who paid the price for man, who replaced man on the cross, and in death and resurrection brought all men life and righteousness. I count down the days until Christ's righteousness is fully revealed and man's righteousness is nowhere to be found. The truth of the matter being:

"The only thing that I am good for, at all, is pointing to the worth of Christ!"