Monday, March 2, 2020
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15[1]
Many questions beg answers; in the letter to the Hebrew Christians
sometimes the questions seem to beg, and beg, and beg…. This is not one of those times. For me, at least, this text is one of the
clearest, most satisfying pegs that holds my faith secure, even in the fiercest
of life’s storms. Paul answers the
questions for which my frightened little soul craves light: Does God care about me? It shines light on: Why the cross? And it assures that: It’s REALLY possible
to be forgiven!
Peter seemed to have been in awe of Paul’s deep and complex
insights, and, at times, more than a little confused about Paul’s letters!
Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. 2 Peter 3:15-16
With Paul and Peter, you and I can also understand the cross and the
nature of suffering for our sins, as well as the gift of the One who is
eternal, who became one of us to pay the ultimate cost.
If actions speak louder and more eloquently than words, then the
cross is our assurance that God indeed loves us, and forgiveness is not only
possible, it is palpable. Forgiveness
isn’t a far-off question to beg an answer until it drives you mad; forgiveness
is a blood-stained reality, offered from the best friend you could imagine
(even if you cannot fully understand why He offers himself
in your place)!
Paul’s throwaway line in this is that we humans live in slavery to
the fear of death. And it’s true. Those who, as Peter said, are ignorant and
unstable may offer a false kind of bravado, asserting that they’re unafraid,
and even go so far as to deny God’s existence.
But it’s just whistling in the dark against their
fear. The plain and inexorable reality
is that everyone who has ever drawn breath trembles against the day they will
stop drawing breath. In short, we dread
knowing, but can’t stop wondering what (or WHO) is beyond this life. We dread the final answer which we will ALL
one-day encounter.
For those who choose to believe and embrace the forgiving act of Jesus
Christ on that cross as He broke the power of fear and death, the result of such
trust brings peace that is unmistakable and makes little sense to the
skeptic. But it is the answer that makes
all other questions moot.
For
You Today
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