The Broken Window

Romans 5:6 - For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Imagine with me that two boys are throwing a football in a parking lot crowded with cars. They have been told not to throw the ball around vehicles but boys will be boys. Then a dreaded thing happens. One of the boys hits the rear window of a brand new Lamborghini and the window shatters. The boys are frightened. They know they have been disobedient. What will they do now? Will they run, hide and pretend they don't know what happened to the window? Uh oh, it's too late. Someone has seen them and he is sure to tell Dad.

What does Dad do when he finds out? Does he disown his sons because they broke a window? Of course not. They are still his sons. He will have to pay for the window. He may make his sons work to pay him back, not because he needs the money, but to teach them responsibility. In the end they are still his sons. In time all will be forgiven and most likely forgotten.

Now think back with me to the beginning of human existence. God put two of his children in a garden. They were told not to eat from a certain tree. We know what happened; they ate from it anyway. God saw it. They were punished.

Banned from the garden.

Condemned to a life of weary, back-breaking labor.

But they were not disowned or forgotten ...

 He covered their shame with skins. They were no longer in innocence but they were spared the humility and disgrace of forever going naked. They were punished but they were still God's children. And last, but not least, God sent them a promise. He would send a future savior to crush the head of the serpent. They had hope that they would not always be under the curse. (Genesis 3:15)

There are many who have a faulty misconception of God's anger. They don't understand how a loving God could punish anyone. Why would a God of compassion and mercy send anyone to hell? The answer is simple. God in his very essence is Holy. No sin can enter his presence. The existence of rebellion separates us from God, not by his choice, but of necessity. His holiness demands judgment on sin. If we were to stay in his unguarded presence with sin in our lives we would be destroyed. His mercy separates us from him.

But thankfully, like the boys and the broken window, we are not disowned because of sin. He has the means to fix our mistakes. This time it is more severe than a broken window. Adam and Eve broke the sacred law of God that says, if we sin we die. There is no going around it. It can not be undone. It is the law.

For this reason God robed himself in flesh, came to earth, and died for us. He was in effect paying for the broken window. The debt was so high we could not pay it. But he could. He paid the ultimate price with his life to cover our sins. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive them. He can and wants to fix the broken place in our lives. But we must stop making excuses. We must not blame others. We must admit, yes I did it. I played ball in the parking lot when I was told not to. But God, you are still my Dad and I know you can fix it. I trust you too. Please help.

And he will. This is the very meaning of salvation, that Dad can fix it. Just ask, He is always glad to help.

Thoughtfully Yours,

Sullivan Jones