Undeserving

Have you ever done something to help someone, who really didn’t deserve your help? Several occasions come to my mind but one in particular stands out. It was many years ago, and while I won’t go into the details let me just say that this person had received my help many times. The same person had caused me a considerable amount of pain and grief and I was, quite honestly, ready to be done with it. But one afternoon I found myself in my car and heading to help them – again! – while knowing full well that I would quickly be “forgotten” once the emergency was over. So as I drove, I wrestled – “It wasn’t just that one time, it wasn’t just that day…” – first with myself and then with God. One thought finally brought peace: however this person chose to behave and continue with their life, my willingness to respond to their need would testify to the kindness and faithfulness of God.

So what does that have to do with Chapter 12 of The Bridge from OneDayBow? A lot!  There is so much packed into this one chapter that we’ve had to unpack it a little bit at a time, but one thing I can’t rush past: Tim’s question – “So, what did the King do?”

In many ways He reached out,” the Son said quietly,

“To warn of the great danger of living carelessly.

Many doubted His judgment, while others tried to hide.

It caused a separation as deep as it is wide.”

And so I came to the world on behalf of the King,

To tell them of His great love, and repeat His warning:

It matters how you live – I’m aware of what you do.

Trust and obey My Word so it may go well with you.’”

“Many didn’t believe Me or the message We said.

Some thought they’d be better off if only I was dead.

I took on the punishment because I came to save,

Defeating Natas’ death-grip when I conquered the grave!”

The answer to Tim’s question – “So, what did the King do?” –  in short is; He did something that was totally NOT deserved by anyone.

And it wasn’t just the one time, it wasn’t just one day, it wasn’t just the first two that chose to disobey. No, every person since the first has done the same. After years and years of reaching out to a stubborn and rebellious people, the King sent His own Son to bridge the great divide. Tim knew the Son built the Bridge but didn’t understand the cost was His own life!

And the answer to why He did it?

“The King so loved the world that He gave His Only Son.”  

Pretty incredulous story, right? But the real story of God’s love for us is even more amazing! There is nothing that any human being could do to deserve God’s favor. The sacrifice of His One and Only Son was totally undeserved by any of us. Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say in Romans, chapter 5, verses 6-11:

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

Wow! Talk about being underserving – all of us! No one ever was, nor is now deserving of God’s great kindness in Jesus Christ. He is the Only Way we can be reconciled to God:

There is no other way but the one the King provides, through Christ, by His sacrifice, and nothing else besides.

Which reminds me about the person I mentioned at the beginning of this blog who I said was undeserving… that makes two of us.