Cross Contemplation

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

J Sarr spoke last night from 1 Peter with an emphasis on considering, understanding and dwelling on our own salvation. In order to be able to live on unseen things we must first have some idea, though not complete, of what is the object of our hope. We must have some type of assurance that what we are living unto is worth enduring whatever trial we may face here and now.

The cost of our salvation was great. Since God makes all the rules He could have designed a plan that did not include the death of His only Son. To think that He would even start the process of reconciling us is incomprehensible; why would He want to save sinners in the first place, especially when He knew how we would be toward Him?

Why did He not just start entirely over at the flood? Why does He save even one, since there is none righteous? Why send His Only Loved Son to live 33 years on this earth and to endure all the pain and agony, the humiliation and sorrow, that He carried with Him here? He could have come as a Conquering Hero, as He will someday soon, and The Father could have demanded sacrifice for our sin another way, but this was His plan- to show the riches of His grace to the coming ages, Eph. 2.

Since He did not spare His most loved Son, since He turned His back on Him when He took our sin on Him, since He raised Him from the dead to conquer death for us, since He lavished redemption, forgiveness and grace on us- in the fullest measure- since in all things He has not skimped in any regard, but has given according to His abundant great love, what have we to fear?

If He gave His most precious possession to win us back, after we messed up the story, then why would we think even for a moment that He would not handle the rest? It makes no sense that He would bring us this far to leave us trying to fend for ourselves. We can no more fend for ourselves than we can take care of our debt of sin.

May we rest in His care and provision and rejoice in so great a salvation, a salvation that cost The Son His very life and The Father His Only Son. This kind of thinking should help us to live on unseen things.