While We Were Still Weak, Christ…

Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I am a weak vessel. I feel this everyday as I strive to be more like my Savior. If it were up to me to EARN my way to heaven, I would miserably fail! In fact, by the time I became aware of what the purity of God demands in His presence, I had already failed and sinned; reaping the wrath of God I so justly deserve.

This is not popular —- The world tells us that we are inherently good and that if we just focused on ourselves and respect who we are, we would be so much better off. This is simply not true…through Adam, we have been born into a sinful body and existence we cannot escape. BUT then, at just the right time for Jesus to enter the world, He came and lived a perfect life, taught us what our position is relative to the Father, and then sacrificially gave Himself as a ransom for us! He didn’t die for the good Ben Bourland, He died for the wretched, sinful, and weak Ben Bourland. The Ben Bourland and I am.

BUT NOW, because of that ransom that has been paid for me by Jesus, I stand in God’s amazing grace. God, because of His Son, has literally transformed my heart into one who out of a desperate love and gratitude, lives to honor, glorify, and praise God for all that He has completed. That love God displayed in sending His Son and God the Son enduring the cross for my Salvation, is not comprehendible. I only live Justified, because He lives…not only lives, but lives IN me.

APPLICATION

The truths of this passage are overwhelming! Some of this is so overwhelming that it is hard to comprehend how I, a lowly sinner, can receive such a gift. It is this heart condition that drives me into God’s Word everyday seeking to know God’s character and attributes so that the life I live here on this earth is one that points to the Savior Who rescued me. It is this mindset that has me seeking every opportunity to build relationships with hurting people, share the love of God as well as what He has done for us, and finally taking every opening I can to share the Gospel of this God Who has created a way, a way that is outside of any capability we have, to have everlasting life in the presence of the One Who ransomed us from our depravity.