You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6
Humans are notoriously stupid. We were given a simple rule: stay away from that tree; and we couldn’t even do that. Adam and Eve made a grave mistake, literally. They listened to the first lie, and committed the first act of rebellion. And as punishment, God kicked them out of His garden. He told them the consequences of their actions: pain, toilsome work, death. They were no longer free to walk with Him. Now they were slaves to their own sin.
But He didn’t leave them hopeless. He gave them a promise: the promise of a savior. A man would be born with the single purpose of defeating the Devil and Death.
But, humans are also very impatient. Adam and Eve were certain that their first son, Cain, was the man. But he wasn’t. Neither was his brother, or their grandson, or their great-grandson. Noah wasn’t. Neither was Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob. Or Moses, Joshua, Gideon, or Samson. Even David, the man after God’s own heart, failed to be the fulfillment of God’s first promise of salvation.
So humans tried everything in their power to “help” God along. Prayers, sacrifices, music, rituals, and more; all were worthless in the endeavor to save us from ourselves. We were powerless. We were doomed. We were certain we had failed.
We were wrong.
At just the right time God sent “the Man.” It wasn’t when we thought was best, but when God knew was best.
The temple had been destroyed, the Ark of the Covenant lost, the Children of Israel scattered. The Presence of God had apparently abandoned His people. All hope was lost. It was at that moment that humanity was most ready for God’s perfect Hope.
We were powerless, so God sent His Son, who had the power to control the waves, to raise the dead, to command the demonic.
The Son of Man, who lived the perfect life we could not. Who died the just death we deserve. And who took Death with Him into the tomb, so that it might be buried there, unable to touch us.
We were powerless slaves, but now we, through Christ, we are free to be Children of God.
Father,
Sometimes we can be very impatient. We come to you with prayers, expecting You to save us right now. But sometimes you make us wait. Help us to realize why we must wait, and to have the patience to endure, so that Your Will may be done in Your time.
Amen
