Recently my husband and I watched an inspiring movie on Amazon Prime called “A Million Miles Away,” the true story of Jose Hernandez who had a dream. He and his family came to the US as migrant workers in the 70’s and moved around in central California picking the produce that graced our tables. Even as a young boy, he and the rest of the family would get up at 4:15am to get into the fields to pick, then the children would go home and go to school. As the work moved from farm to farm, the children changed schools. Not an easy life. Often at night, Jose would wonder about the stars he saw in the sky and his dream was born. He wanted to be an astronaut. Impossible you say? Yet, he had a drive to achieve this goal, it did happen, but getting there was full of obstacles and required sacrifice from not only himself but others who loved him. His family saved money from their hard labor to buy a home but sacrificed their own dream so he could go to college and get an engineering degree and later a master’s degree. His wife encouraged and supported his dream fully even though it meant she had to parent five children alone often. They kept him from giving up because they loved him and saw he could do it! The story of Jose’s success reminded me that love sacrifices.
The story of Jesus and our redemption is all about love and sacrifice. This quote from Tim Keller sets the framework for understanding what Christ has done for us:
“We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
We are not born good and we’ve always needed a Savior.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6
“There is no one righteous, not even one; …there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10,12
And because we know from Romans 6:23 that the payment for sin is death, love would sacrifice Himself that it might be paid. In John 10:1-21, Jesus declares four times that He will lay down His life for us! He did it voluntarily, sacrificing Himself on our behalf. Thanks be to God, that is not the end of the story because He also declared that He would take up His life again.
Did you notice the phrase in Keller’s quote ‘at the very same time?’ This next verse encapsulates the truth.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Dear ones, our sin is never too great that His blood could not wash it away. His sacrifice is more than sufficient because that is what love has done.
Reflect: Throughout your day, ponder how great Jesus’ sacrifice was for you. And remember what that little phrase ‘at the very same time’ means in your life.
Francie Overstreet