Human beings are pretty smart. We know we are the most advanced of life forms on earth. Yet, we wonder if there are aliens in outer space more advanced technologically than us. We make movies about genetically modified apes who overtake the earth and rule in our place. We love chick flicks and our hearts are stirred by touching stories of people who have been miraculously healed or who have made a good life from inopportune and tragic circumstances. At the same time, our media is saturated with stories of rape and murder. We make horror movies filled with almost unthinkable atrocities and we enjoy watching this. We love nature, but we destroy it. We think we are good, and we try hard to maintain this image. Yet, we know we are weak and every now and then, we acknowledge our faults.
We are human – made in the image of God, yet deceived by sin. Are we intrinsically good, or intrinsically bad? It’s an interesting question. In any case, the fact remains that our goodness cannot ever compare to that of God’s. The best, most compassionate, most generous human being could never compare to God’s compassion or His generosity. Our holiness will never be enough to match God’s. We can never be good enough for God for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23]. What a hopeless picture! UNLESS, like those Hollywood movies, the one in higher position is willing to lower themselves, out of love. You know, the guy from a rich family gives it up to marry the girl in relative poverty. He is despised and marked as insane but in the end they are together and their love binds and satisfies them. Or perhaps it’s a Cinderella story where the ordinary city girl is picked by the prince to be his wife and queen. WAIT, this sounds a little familiar.
[Philippians 2:5-9]
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”
And [John 17:22-23]
“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved me.”
And [Isaiah 53:4-5]
“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted,
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement of our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
From Romans 3:23, we know we are all sinners who fall short of God’s glory, but verse 24 says this: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” It’s not a hopeless story. It’s an incredible love story, better than anything Hollywood can capture on film.
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