Blown away

There are many things that I have experience that have been so life-altering I probably will never get over them.  One is having open heart surgery in 1996 at the tender age of 26.  My wedding day in 1999 was perhaps one of the most joyful and overwhelming days ever.  The birth of each one of my children was incredible, but there is nothing like witnessing (and even assisting) in the birth of your first child.

Then there is my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I was five years old when I understood that the gospel was for me.  I repented of my sin, placed my trust in Christ, and started on a journey of faith and obedience.  During these past 35 years there have been many ups and downs for me spiritually, yet God has been faithful to me and has granted me His grace and mercy continuously even though I've done nothing to deserve it.

To be honest, most of the life-altering experiences I've had haven't bowled me over on a daily basis.  Just writing these recollections in this blog has opened up a storehouse of incredible memories, yet I probably will be much less nostalgic come tomorrow.  Sadly, the same can be true of a relationship with Christ.  The "thrill" comes and goes and there may be times when we don't dwell on His love and grace at all.

When Jesus stood before Pilate prior to His crucifixion, Pilate tried to release Jesus from His incarceration.  On a few occasions Pilate told the crowd that had gathered that he found no fault with Jesus - "He has done nothing to deserve death." (Luke 23:13-25)  Even though charges were hurled at Jesus from every direction, none of them could stick.  Jesus was truly an innocent man.

Yet He still chose to die.  For you and for me.

That blows me away.

Why would anyone who had committed no crime still be willing to suffer the ultimate penalty for not only that crime but the crimes of all mankind? 

That blows me away.

Perhaps my favorite verse in all of Scripture, 2 Corinthians 5:21, sums it up well: "He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Jesus knew no sin.  My life was characterized by sin and rebellion.  So He became sin for me, not merely taking it upon Him but actually taking it within Him.  My sin account paid by the only One worthy to pay the price for it.

I pray that this always blows us away.