Evangelist Fred Brown used three illustrations to explain the proper use of God's law. First, he likened the law to a dentist's mirror. With that little mirror he can spot cavities. But the dentist doesn't drill with the mirror. The mirror can reveal a cavity, but it can never repair it.

Brown then compared the law to a flashlight. If the lights in your home suddenly go out, you use a flashlight to guide you through the darkness to the electrical box. The flashlight enables you to see the blown fuse or tripped circuit-breaker, but you don't insert the flashlight in its place.

In his third image, Brown likened the law to a plumb line. A builder uses a weighted string to see if his work is properly aligned. If he discovers a mistake, he doesn't use the plumb line to correct it. He uses his hammer and saw.

The apostle Paul said, "We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully" (1 Tim. 1:8). The law of God reveals the problem of sin, but it doesn't provide a solution. The answer is found in Jesus Christ. He bore our guilt on the cross and now offers us new life. When we put our faith in Him as our personal Savior, He forgives us and enables us to live by His strength in ways that please Him. What the law can't do, Christ can. Have you asked Him to be your Savior?  — Haddon W. Robinson