SUPPOSE

  • Suppose that once upon a time, a good and loving God created people in his
    own image.
  • Suppose He gave those people free will, so that they could make their
    own choices.
  • Suppose He set them up in an idyllic environment, with plenty of food and sunshine and interesting things to do.
  • Suppose He imposed one restriction on them, warning them that if they violated the restriction, they would lose the gift of life He had given them?
  • Suppose they violated that restriction, for no good reason, just because
    they felt like it?
  • Suppose that, instead of taking their lives, God made provision for them
    and forgave them?
  • Suppose that their descendants repeated that pattern, over and over
    and over again?
  • Suppose that God bestowed special gifts on one particular nation, so that they could know Him deeply and help others break the destructive pattern?
  • Suppose this chosen nation rebelled too?
  • Suppose that, time after time, God forgave this nation, delivered them from the messes they’d gotten into, and sent special messengers to communicate to them?
  • Suppose these people killed the messengers?
  • Suppose the people turned their backs on God, invented other religions, and worshiped idols they carved out of stone, and animals and mountains
    and rivers and streams, instead of God?
  • Suppose, in an ultimate act of redemption, God Himself came to them in a human body as the Son of God, not to condemn them, but to redeem them?
  • Suppose, instead of welcoming Him, these people rejected, tortured,
    and killed Him?
  • Suppose that God accepted the death of His Son as payment for the sins
    of the very people who put Him to death?
  • Suppose that God offered His Son’s murderers complete forgiveness,
    transcendent peace, and eternal life as a free gift?
  • Suppose God said, “I demand only one thing from you in return: that you
    honor My Son, who gave His life for you?”
  • If God did all that, would you be willing to say “God, you aren’t being fair. You haven’t done enough. I want another option?”

 The wonder is not, why is there only one way? But, why is there any way at all?

 

 

                                                                                         - Adapted from R. C. Sproul