My life was on track. I was at the top of my game. I had love. I had a nice house in the suburbs. I was at the top of my class, and I was only … five.
My life was good then, and nothing was wrong – except some little things. There was the issue of my honesty. By then I had learned about the exhilarating rush of a good lie. Only it left me feeling dirty and scared that I’d be discovered.
I had love, but I watched myself respond to that love with selfishness. It really was all about me. Like once I gave my Easter candy to my little brother. It looked nice, but it was really so I could get what I wanted out of him later. As much as that was gratifying, I had a gnawing sense that life might not stay that way much longer.
In short, while I had no real problems, I had some real problems. What would I do with my guilt? As an innocent five year old, I needed forgiveness. As a guilty adult, I need forgiveness. No difference.
That’s when Jesus Christ stepped into the picture. He offered forgiveness. It was only a matter of receiving it, so I did.
Forgiveness. That means a lot of different things.
I think it means that God exists and that he is real, independent of what we think he is. And if that’s true, then I want to know him. If I am going to know God, then he’s going to have to reveal himself. (I’ll get to the forgiveness thing in a minute.)
Now, by looking at people, I conclude God is just. I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t have a sense of justice. If you think you are one, please let me know where you live so I can help myself to your possessions.
By looking at people, I also conclude that God is loving. I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t need love. If you think you are one… [can't think of a good quip for that one.]
That’s as far as I can get without expanding my view past normal people. If you don’t look for answers beyond humanity, and you factor in the other parts of normal people (evil, hatred), then it leaves a bit of confusion still.
So I’ve looked around and concluded that Jesus Christ is another person that adds a significant piece to the puzzle, but he wasn’t normal. He was a good teacher, a good man, a good example, … and he claimed to be God.
You can argue that he didn’t say that, but you’ll have to argue against good history to the contrary. You can argue that he wasn’t a good teacher, but you’ll be arguing against most people in the world today who say he was. And you can argue that he wasn’t God, as many people do, but that leaves you in the logical corner of explaining how his claim to be God makes any sense.
I’m going with the option that, while requiring me to believe something that’s a bit of a stretch, nonetheless completes the picture with self-consistency; he was God. (Remember, he later rose himself from the dead to prove it.)
If he was God, then his death is yet another puzzle (God dies?). But if he was God, then what he said needs to be listened to as well. Jesus said his death would satisfy the justice of God on our behalf. Frankly, I don’t fully understand this, but since he is the source of justice, he can decide what satisfies his justice and what doesn’t.
So here’s where I am:
God is loving. I have guilt. Jesus offered justice for my guilt. I receive it. = Forgiveness.
And that’s just the beginning of the discussion! Take the first step. Accept the forgiveness. Do it in your spirit. Use your faith. Talk to God about it.
