Surely God laughs at and with us. He made us in His image and laughter is a big part of the joy of living. We had supper tonight with friends, one of which is an authority on the value of antique cars. He expressed the truth that things only have value in the minds of the seller and buyer. Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and the sum for which someone is willing to let it go. I looked at him and said, “That is also true regarding your value to God. He paid for you with Jesus. You must be worth a lot.” Quick as a flash my friend responded, “He got taken!” After I stopped laughing I knew God also laughed. And when He finished He instantaneously thought, “That’s the kind of guy I want in heaven, a guy who understands the value of Jesus and who cannot imagine himself being so valued.”
When we stop to think about the cross and redemption it is outrageous. Who would trade their son for one of us? Paul said it so clearly in Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” It is no wonder Paul speaks of the foolishness of preaching. The story we have to tell the world is preposterous. Who in their right mind could possibly believe the creator God of the universe traded his life on a horrible instrument of torture so one of us can take His place at the center of the universe in deepest heaven?
So was God “taken”? He didn’t think so. Love sometimes makes us do crazy things and this is a love story.
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 4, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org