“I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25(NIV)
Redeem
Recently, a business failed me. It didn’t meet the high standards it had claimed. My order was a time-sensitive one, and honestly, I didn’t have a Plan B. Not long after that, a letter came in the mail. As it turned out, the district manager had been overseeing the store that day and regretted the mistake. Not wanting it to effect their reputation, she sent several gift certificates that I could redeem if I wanted to. I’ll tell you, the way I felt about their future as a store after their slip-up and after receiving the gift certificates was completely different. I think she knew there was little hope of my returning if they hadn’t recognized and apologized for what they’d done. The unexpected gift did change my outlook.
As hard as we might try, we can’t live up to high standards either. Oh we might do pretty well for a while, but then we fail. A lie here, a cross word there, broken promises, heading in the wrong direction, putting ourselves first, and those secret things that would cause our reputations to suffer. Doing what’s right is a tall order, one we can’t fill. Do WE have a Plan B?
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Romans 3:23 (NLT)
Thankfully, we have an Overseer, who does offer a new plan. One of hope for our future despite our missteps. It’s God’s gift to redeem us through the cross.
“and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith.” Romans 3:24-25a (NIV)
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
While I am grateful for the gift certificates that were offered, if I don’t use them they’ll expire and I will lose out on their benefit. It’s vital to remember that the very same thing is true about God’s gift of salvation. Unlike my coupons, we don’t know an exact expiration date, but if we wait too long we’ll miss the blessing of eternal life and perish. Haven’t accepted God’s redeeming grace? Do it now! The undeserved gift will change everything!
