Redeeming

Redemption is a complex word. By itself, we understand that redemption is the process of redeeming. Redeeming by definition is the act of buying back an object at a certain price. When I was a teenager, I had a job at Chick-fil-A. Now, I know things have changed, but when I worked with CFA we were often given B.O.G. cards to give to frequent customers or family members. “Be Our Guest” cards were coupons for free items. They would be for sandwiches, nuggets, biscuits, milkshakes, drinks, waffle fries, and, if you were really lucky, you might have received a B.O.G for a #1 Combo meal. The reality was (and is) that someone is really paying for the supposed “free” item. Without too much business detail, the operator’s name on the coupon was the guy/gal that was being charged for the “free” item, not the costumer.  So, which leads us to several questions. Why did I get a coupon? Who is really paying?

Why was I so Lucky?

Paul wrote in Romans that all of us have sinned and we all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Let’s take a quick history lesson and return to an account in scripture with which we are all probably familiar. The story of Adam and Woman (she wasn’t named Eve until the after they sinned) is where we need to start. God gave his two created beings one simple instruction to not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden (Gen 3:3). Well, I think we all know the results. Adam and Woman made a poor choice. Because of that choice we were all effected and we are all born into sin. What does that really mean? Well, we need saving from this sin. We need someone to rescue humanity, to redeem us. The results of sin are death and a broken relationship with God. God is Holy and cannot be around sin. Hence, Adam and Eve were banned from the garden. God’s creation, that was made to glorify him and fellowship with him, was no longer able to do so. If we are not careful, we read right over God’s redemptive plan in Genesis 3:15. We have a tendency to be caught up in the fact that Adam and Eve sinned and we miss this verse where God inserts himself back into the story. God explains that his son would defeat death and bring liberation for all mankind.

Is Salvation really “free?”

Is there anything in life that is ever free? Even through all my childhood and adolescent years, I had always heard that salvation was free, but it never crossed my mind that Jesus paid something, his life, as a ransom for mine. “For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15) I understood that Jesus died on a cross and paid the atonement for sin. That seems like such a global concept that sometimes, like myself, we lose the personal connection. As a young adult, I really began to understand that not only did Jesus die for humanity (another global word), but he died for me, on a personal level. Because of Jesus’ life and death, I am offered freedom. That’s mind boggling to me. It’s as if Jesus said, “You can’t afford the chicken sandwich, so take this coupon. I’ve already paid for it.” Now the question is in our “court.” Are we going to redeem the coupon? Not only do we get salvation, but Jesus is also at the table waiting on us to come eat with him. WHAT? Not only does Jesus offer salvation, but he also wants a personal relationship with me (and you).

Photo by Om Prakash Sethia on Unsplash