I once heard a heartbreaking story of a young boy's death. It's also the story of man who controlled the opening and closing of a bridge over a river. The man had to take his young boy to work and was busy about his job opening the bridge for a passing boat as his son played. The son snuck out of the control room and in his exploring discovered where the large gears were housed that raised and lowered the bridge and became stuck in the gears. As the man looked out from the control room he noticed his son through the window just as a train approached. The man had to make a choice. Quickly. There was enough time to save his son, but the train would crash. Or he could lower the bridge and save the hundreds of people on the train. But this would mean a painful, agonizing death for his son.
This is a glimpse into the choice God made for you and for me. It's a story most of us are familiar with. God saw us in need and allowed Jesus to die to save us. But what were some of the "behind the scenes" thoughts and motivations? Check out this verse.
"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
1. "Spare". The Greek meaning is to "abstain" or "forbear", which means to patiently restrain an impulse from doing something.
Think about this! God could NOT patiently refrain himself from giving up his son, Jesus for you. Imagine God looking down from heaven going about his business and then seeing you. And in an instance he is so smitten with you, so in love with you, that he can't keep himself from turning to Jesus and saying, "You're going down there! I love this person so much that you have to go. Now! I can't wait any longer!" That's what God felt about you!
2. "Gave Up". The Greek meaning is to "hand over", "hand down", and "deliver". It's with betrayal and abandonment. It also means to do hand over with a deep sense of close personal involvement.
Let's add to what we have been considering. God turns sees you and wants so badly to have a relationship with you that he turns to Jesus, his only son, and says, "You are going down there right now. I can't wait. I love this person so much that you are going down there immediately. Not only that but the only way this is going to work means saying goodbye to you, Jesus. I have to let you die so I can be with them. I have to betray you and hand you over to an agonizing death." God does this for us, not as a little god sitting on a cloud far removed from what's going on. No. He does this as God Almighty who gets up close and personal with a deep sense of attachment in what is happening. For you.
The man in our story chose to lower the bridge. He watched as his son was crushed by the gears of the bridge. In so doing, hundreds of people on the train were saved. It was an up close and personal experience for this man.
God chose to lower his son, Jesus. He watched as his son was tortured and crucified by our sins here on earth. In so doing, millions of people on this earth who choose to accept Jesus and follow him will be saved. It was an up close and personal experience for God.
What would you have done if you were that man on the bridge? I don't know what I would have done. But I'm glad that God did know. I'm glad that he chose me. That's why I worship. John 3:16.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
This is a glimpse into the choice God made for you and for me. It's a story most of us are familiar with. God saw us in need and allowed Jesus to die to save us. But what were some of the "behind the scenes" thoughts and motivations? Check out this verse.
"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
1. "Spare". The Greek meaning is to "abstain" or "forbear", which means to patiently restrain an impulse from doing something.
Think about this! God could NOT patiently refrain himself from giving up his son, Jesus for you. Imagine God looking down from heaven going about his business and then seeing you. And in an instance he is so smitten with you, so in love with you, that he can't keep himself from turning to Jesus and saying, "You're going down there! I love this person so much that you have to go. Now! I can't wait any longer!" That's what God felt about you!
2. "Gave Up". The Greek meaning is to "hand over", "hand down", and "deliver". It's with betrayal and abandonment. It also means to do hand over with a deep sense of close personal involvement.
Let's add to what we have been considering. God turns sees you and wants so badly to have a relationship with you that he turns to Jesus, his only son, and says, "You are going down there right now. I can't wait. I love this person so much that you are going down there immediately. Not only that but the only way this is going to work means saying goodbye to you, Jesus. I have to let you die so I can be with them. I have to betray you and hand you over to an agonizing death." God does this for us, not as a little god sitting on a cloud far removed from what's going on. No. He does this as God Almighty who gets up close and personal with a deep sense of attachment in what is happening. For you.
The man in our story chose to lower the bridge. He watched as his son was crushed by the gears of the bridge. In so doing, hundreds of people on the train were saved. It was an up close and personal experience for this man.
God chose to lower his son, Jesus. He watched as his son was tortured and crucified by our sins here on earth. In so doing, millions of people on this earth who choose to accept Jesus and follow him will be saved. It was an up close and personal experience for God.
What would you have done if you were that man on the bridge? I don't know what I would have done. But I'm glad that God did know. I'm glad that he chose me. That's why I worship. John 3:16.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott