Why Jesus, why so much trouble?
I was once asked why did God go through so much trouble to bring us salvation? Why didn't God just ask us to plant a tree and offer salvation to all? The truth is most people want a God of love and fail to understand the concept of justice. The living God is a God of love, but He is also a God of perfect justice, and for love and justice to prevail, a suffering savior was the only possible path.
Let me illustrate with an analogy. Imagine one day in a mid-sized town, a businessman is arrested for embezzling money. This is the most prominent business man in the town, well known throughout the community. As the case goes through the court system, it turns out that the judge selected to proceed over his case is the businessman's best friend. These two have known each other since childhood, roomed together in college and vacation together with their kids. As the trial begins, everyone including the media take a great interest in the case, curious how the judge will rule in his best friend's case. Finally, it was the day of the verdict. The media was out in full force to see how this judge would treat his best friend. Would he be loving and let him off or would he stand by principle and judge him fairly. Finally, the verdict is handed down, the judge finds his best friend guilty on all charges. But if that is not enough, the judge gives his best friend the maximum penalty; pay a $1 million fine or go to jail for ten years. The crowd was stunned at the verdict because the judge did not have to hand down the maximum penalty. Finally, everyone leaves the courtroom in disbelief. Once the courtroom is cleared, the judge steps down from his chamber, walks over to his friend and says, "I sold my house, my car and cashed in my retirement fund. I paid your fine, you are free to go."
In today's narcissistic society everyone wants a loving, sweet God. Yet the problem of sin is undeniable. The penalty for sin must be paid, we are all guilty. But God, in His infinite love, took upon himself a fleshly body and paid the price that we owe. Only in Christianity is sin dealt with decisively, while God's great love and justice remain unchanged.
Today salvation is offered freely to all who put their trust in Jesus. It is not based on how good we are, because the truth is none of us deserve to stand before a righteous and perfect God, much less earn eternal salvation in his heavenly kingdom. On the day of our death, we will all stand before him in judgement. While you may be a good person and even better than most everyone you know, you are not perfect. Jesus willingly took the penalty for all that you've done, so on that day you can stand before God with the penalty for your sins paid in full.
I was once asked why did God go through so much trouble to bring us salvation? Why didn't God just ask us to plant a tree and offer salvation to all? The truth is most people want a God of love and fail to understand the concept of justice. The living God is a God of love, but He is also a God of perfect justice, and for love and justice to prevail, a suffering savior was the only possible path.
Let me illustrate with an analogy. Imagine one day in a mid-sized town, a businessman is arrested for embezzling money. This is the most prominent business man in the town, well known throughout the community. As the case goes through the court system, it turns out that the judge selected to proceed over his case is the businessman's best friend. These two have known each other since childhood, roomed together in college and vacation together with their kids. As the trial begins, everyone including the media take a great interest in the case, curious how the judge will rule in his best friend's case. Finally, it was the day of the verdict. The media was out in full force to see how this judge would treat his best friend. Would he be loving and let him off or would he stand by principle and judge him fairly. Finally, the verdict is handed down, the judge finds his best friend guilty on all charges. But if that is not enough, the judge gives his best friend the maximum penalty; pay a $1 million fine or go to jail for ten years. The crowd was stunned at the verdict because the judge did not have to hand down the maximum penalty. Finally, everyone leaves the courtroom in disbelief. Once the courtroom is cleared, the judge steps down from his chamber, walks over to his friend and says, "I sold my house, my car and cashed in my retirement fund. I paid your fine, you are free to go."
In today's narcissistic society everyone wants a loving, sweet God. Yet the problem of sin is undeniable. The penalty for sin must be paid, we are all guilty. But God, in His infinite love, took upon himself a fleshly body and paid the price that we owe. Only in Christianity is sin dealt with decisively, while God's great love and justice remain unchanged.
Today salvation is offered freely to all who put their trust in Jesus. It is not based on how good we are, because the truth is none of us deserve to stand before a righteous and perfect God, much less earn eternal salvation in his heavenly kingdom. On the day of our death, we will all stand before him in judgement. While you may be a good person and even better than most everyone you know, you are not perfect. Jesus willingly took the penalty for all that you've done, so on that day you can stand before God with the penalty for your sins paid in full.