One of the duties of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sèvres, France, is maintain the world standard for the Kilogram. The Bureau holds the International Prototype of the Kilogram, or IPK, which is used as a reference for all those needing to test their measuring devices. It is a very important item; proper and fair trading on a global level depends on it.
In order to maintain its accuracy, the IPK is placed in a sealed, air-free container. Human hands never touch it; all measuring and comparisons are done remotely in order to ensure that nothing alters its weight.
Oddly enough, despite the best precautions of the Bureau, for reasons logical but beyond the scope of this writing, the IPK has gained weight. That’s right, the world standard is heavier than when it was first cast in 1879. So, while the Bureau thought they were maintaining its integrity, it had “fattened up” all by itself. Now they have to figure out how to get it back to its proper weight.
Does this story sound familiar? Have you ever tried to keep someone from getting into trouble? Have you ever tried to stay virtuous and failed miserably? Sometimes we simply can’t avoid trouble. Despite our best efforts, we take the pure, perfect being God created us to be and mess it all up. It’s a frustrating but normal part of being human. Incredibly, it’s as easy to be forgiven as it is to mess up. Through Jesus, God readily restores us to our proper perfect selves. Sadly, our restoration might not last long. Then again, neither will our sin, because God’s forgiveness is always just a prayer away.
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