The sermon series in our local church is currently titled, “The Ultimate Choice.” This is a reference to our decision to follow Christ; we were told. Indeed, this is the most important choice of our lives. But I believe the Ultimate Choice was already made. This choice was not made by man, though impressive this creature believes himself to be. No, this choice of ultimate consequence was made by God Himself; in a way and with a cost we cannot imagine. It was made when He chose to atone for our sins with His Blood. This ultimate choice is what grants us ours, it makes us able to chose, truly and for eternity whether we follow God or our own desires. Plain and simple.
In fact, it is the simplicity of the choice that confuses so many. “What does it mean to be a Christian?” many ask. Few know a short answer it seems. Many start a long narrative of Jewish history trying to somehow make sense of what they themselves are saying. They tell us its about a Man, no He was God, they quickly add. He died. He came back. That’s why we are saved, they tell us triumphantly. That is what we are taught from childhood; at least in proper God-fearing homes.
But step back a minute and see what that shortened version really tells other people. Without context, most things are completely moot. If you know nothing about the Flood, Noah’s building project seems like a century of wasted time. Without Liberals there would be no meaning in the word Conservative; and if you did not know of the deaths and grandeur of the sinking of the Titanic it would just be another ship in history. (like its two sister ships) And just like these stories, without a knowledge of the rejection of God by Adam and Eve long, long ago, the story of Jesus makes no sense. For to be saved means one must first be lost. So let us go back and see how it all happened and what it means.
Back when the world was young and perfect, God created Man and Woman. Glorious, perfect, and with the capacity for love and, unlike all other beings, created with true choice. God delighted in His Creation and His Creation delighted itself in Him. God chose to love man and man chose to love God. But after a bit of time, man broke the one and only rule that there was in this Paradise. He did this in defiance of God, to become God's equal; in effect choosing himself over God. This damning foolishness lead to his separation from God. A debt of imperfection could not stand before One Whose very essence was Holiness. Selfishness, the original sin, cast man from God’s presence.
Humanity continued, and every child born soon made the same damning choice. They chose themselves, their lusts, desires, and pride over God. As the Creator of all, the giver of Life, He watched as mankind rejected Him. Where could such a soul go after physical death? What would be left if they those to reject the Author of Life? Thus man was left in a state of damnation. Even when they would desire to come to God (often out of selfish reasons yet again) God could not allow blatant sin (for the definition of sin is to reject God) before His presence.
This evil must be abolished. But what could be done? If even one righteous man was found, his life could only atone for himself. If this man would give up his place for another it would only have, at best, restored one other person. For one man’s soul is of no more value than another’s. Something of great value must be sacrificed to cleanse these fallen souls.
God chose to come Himself.
But why Jesus? Why could He be qualified for all souls? Let's look at the ant. Have you ever seen them scurry? In their world they are important, busy workers with great responsibilities. They live and work for their queen. Yet, when I step on one of these tiny servants I feel no remorse for its lost life. In fact, I would hardly notice if I was the cause of millions of ant deaths.
But if I killed just one man, even unintentionally, I would feel remorse on a level I do not care to dwell on for too long. Why is that? Because the sum total of all insect life does not equal to the life of one human being. The entire ant population means nothing in the face of one human soul. That is the value difference between a bug and a man.
What then of the difference in the value of the sum of all men’s souls and that of the Son of God; the very Creator of those men? Ants have little value compared to men, yet man did not create the ant. Men were indeed created by the One Who came and was killed by OUR sins. It was not the fault of Rome, the Jews, or the cowardly judge Pontius Pilate. It was ours. God, in the form of a man, came and took all the sin, all the rejection of God, and took it to the grave. He died, separated from the Father, due to our rebellion. That was the consequence of sin- separation from God- and He bore it for us, by choice, once for all. This caused our sin to be wiped clean before God.
But this reset to zero would not be of much use if Jesus had not arisen afterward.(I Cor. 15) In death He reset the scale. In new life He not only took away our fault before God (sin) but also gave us His Spirit, so that we could be righteous before our Creator. In His death freedom to choose; in His life an ability to chose perfection. This is not our own perfection we can choose, but His. Just as His death is of such quality it covers our sin, His righteousness is of such a quality that it can cover our very essence. This is the joy, the hope, and the blessing of being a Christian. To have this choice before us, and to choose it gladly.
Conclusion
So, the death of Christ and His Resurrection have made us acceptable before Him once again. God came, restored our bond, and offers us a new choice. We can be with Him and serve Him, or we can continue with our service to ourselves. In the end, the choice is that simple. We postulate and pretend, but God gives us this choice: Him or us? God is faithful, He gave us a choice and will let us live it out. It is not that He cannot force us to chose correctly. God has all power but there are things that are against His nature. To force us to accept Him would mean He went back on His own word, it would mean He was lying. This is a grave assertion. If God is not Holy; He is not God; for that is the definition of God. Were He not Holy He would not have had to die for our sin. Therefore, since He is Holy, He cannot turn on His word. The choice is truly ours. How will you make it?
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live. -Deut. 30:18-19
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