Thought for Friday, r November

  1 Peter 1:18-19

              For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way

of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

In his book ‘Dare to Believe,’ Dan Baumann shared some thoughts about crucifixion that should deepen our gratitude for what the Savior did for us. He wrote, "The twentieth century has forgotten how cruel and hideous crucifixion really was. We have perhaps unwisely and sometimes unconsciously glamorized the cross. Jewelry and steeple alike are often ornamental and attractive but carry nothing of the real story of crucifixion. It was the most painful method of public death in the first century. The victim was placed on a wooden cross. Nails, undoubtedly wooden, were driven into the hands and feet of the victim, and then the cross was lifted and jarred into the ground, tearing the flesh of the crucified and racking his body with excruciating pain. Historians remind us that even the soldiers could not get used to the horrible sight, and often took strong drink to numb their senses."

Jesus endured 6 hours of such anguish, just for us so that we might be forgiven of all our sin!

We are all grumbling about the cost of living rising so rapidly. It is affecting everybody, some worse than others. Prices are pushing people to the point that they sometimes need to decide between ‘eat or heat.’ My heart goes out to those who have children, especially those having to buy school uniforms as well as everything else.

However much we think about these material things, how many of us think of the price Jesus paid on the cross for our eternal lives? Of course, our mortal lives are extremely important but how important are our immortal lives? The souls that we hope will live for all eternity are also important. The price Jesus paid on the cross was far beyond anything we will ever need to pay for anything, but hardly anyone thinks of this.

God will never put us in the same situations we find ourselves in under earthly governments, and yet His agenda is far more important than any earthly agenda. God’s agenda is saving our immortal souls to share eternity with us. 

God is so serious about this that He sent His son Jesus to live as a man to endure a horrific death on a cross to buy our redemption. When Jesus rose from the tomb, He confirmed us as righteous children of God.

Do not be mistaken, God doesn’t need us to ensure His immortality. However, we do need Him! God didn’t send His Son to die for us because He needed company in eternity, God sent Jesus because He loves us so much that He WANTS our company for eternity. 

I have no doubt that God will be heartbroken for all those who reject His invitation, but He will survive the rejection while weeping for those souls who have been lost.

Of course, we still have our part to play in bringing as many of these souls to belief. We are supposed to be spreading the word about the love of God and His son Jesus Christ and about our eternal lives. Come on, let’s do better in the future.

Prayer

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus and for His teachings which we do our best to follow. Help us to follow more closely to these teachings and to be able to share them with our friends, who don’t yet know Jesus. Forgive us for all the times we have had a chance to share the Good News but didn’t. Make us bold enough to speak the name of Jesus out loud, honouring Him as Your Son. We are Your servants, equip us with the abilities to do Your will at all times. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, amen.