Storm winds blew and waves rose and fell in a deathly dance that threatened to break the ship at sea. The dark of night fell thick above the vessel, and below it- violent obsidian jaws of the sea threatened to consume. All around it, the tempest raged. The fates of its passengers rest upon the ability of the captain to safely find land and home.
Then, through the darkness, a light shone from the distant shore. The light house, with its predictable pulse of greater and lesser lights, announced to all at sea, “Peace, comfort, the rest you seek may be found here.”
God the creator looked across the waves of time and found them no less treacherous since the ravages of sin first disturbed His perfection creation. He saw that something monumentally great must be done in order to save the creation He loved. He also saw that nothing in all of His creation would be able to accomplish it. He the Creator must enter into His creation in order to rescue it.
Mankind, driven by self-sufficiency, determined that they should be able to appease the void that their very own consciences demanded to be filled, and yet no ceremony or sacrifice proved sufficient to remove the stain of sin once and for all. Their hearts cried out for a Savior, all the while striving to save themselves.
At just the right time, God entered into His creation to save and redeem it. Jesus, the Son of God offered Himself as the payment for our ransom, and extended a gracious hand of mercy to all who would believe.
Romans 5:1–11 NLT
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”