Inconceivable

Losing Dalton has been brutal, no doubt about it.

I didn’t get a choice. But if I had, I would’ve never willingly sacrificed him for the needs of others.

In fact, I’ve spent much of the last (almost) 4 years kicking, screaming, and pounding my fists on the ground in protest of my unimaginable loss. 

And that’s what makes this next statement so inconceivable.

God did exactly this.

He willingly sacrificed His One and Only Son for the needs of every human.

But He wasn’t just willing.

He even went so far as to devise the plan.  A plan that would require His Son to innocently hang and painfully die on a cross.

For me.  For you.  For all humanity.

I would NEVER, not even for a millisecond, consider such an act.

God knew what Jesus had to endure. 

He witnessed every last injustice committed against His Son.

Jesus was: Falsely accused. Spit upon. Brutally beaten. Rejected. Humiliated. Mocked. Betrayed. Devalued. Pierced. Murdered.

And because this mission was completed, Christ rescued us by paying for our sins.

What would motivate a sacrificial act of this magnitude?

Love. 

Deep, relentless, unconditional, abiding, steadfast love for all of His creation. (John 3:16)

And would you agree that when a person deeply loves someone, they long for a personal relationship with them?

Which is precisely what Jesus wants with ALL of us. Yes, all of us. No matter our sinful condition.

(1 Timothy 2:3-4)

Now in all fairness, I need you to understand that entering into a relationship with Christ doesn’t set the stage for a fairy tale existence. I’m the poster child for that! (Philippians 1:29)

With Jesus, life will still bring hardships and even tragedy at times. (John 16:33) You will still be tempted and make mistakes. Relationships will still be messy.  Answers to questions will often appear confusing.  Medical crises will still lurk around the corner.  Financial strain will still threaten.  Grief will still knock at the door.

So you’re probably wondering why in the world anyone would waste their time with a God who doesn’t erase all our problems and take away our sorrows.

One. Simple. Reason. We live in a fallen world. If this world were perfect, we’d already be living in Heaven.

Knowing Jesus doesn’t render a perfect life.

Instead, knowing Jesus helps us survive an imperfect world.

How?

One, He guides us, walks with us, understands our pain (Jesus was known as the “Man of Sorrows”), comforts us, and sustains us in life’s overwhelming circumstances. (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 46:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Two, by professing faith in Him, we will ultimately be rescued from the brokenness of this world to live for eternity with Christ in Heaven.

And this time it will be better than a fairy tale.  It will be an eternal paradise. Our Heavenly Father will wipe away every tear we’ve ever cried.  Pain, death and mourning will be no more. (Revelation 21:4)

A companion who offers such incomprehensible gifts? Why wouldn’t you?

The inconceivable events that took place on “Good Friday” were far from good. But woven together with the inconceivable events three days later at the tomb yields the Savior that carries me through the inconceivable tragedy that altered my life forever. And this Savior will one day give me a home in an inconceivable paradise when I’m reunited with Dalton for eternity.

How’s that for inconceivable?

A 10th century monastery in Greece has these words inscribed above the door: “If you die before you die, you won’t die when you die.”  Good Friday and Easter Sunday claimed victory. Death doesn’t get the final word.