powerless

April 11, 2007

i went to quiznos for lunch this past sunday. i got my food and sat in front of the window overlooking the parking lot. i noticed there were a lot of seagulls flying around. i looked to the right and saw a canada goose attacking a seagull. it was violent. the goose was very aggressive. i watched as the goose bit the leg and body of the seagull. the seagull struggled against the goose, desperately trying to get away. but it couldn't. it's efforts weren't enough. at one point, the seagull tried to take flight, but it was injured. it couldn't get off the ground fast enough, so it slammed into a wall. the goose pinned it down and attacked. as i watched, i knew the seagull was in big trouble. i thought it was as sure as dead. then, from out of nowhere, a car pulled up on the scene. the driver got out of his car and rushed quickly towards the seagull to protect it. he made aggressive movements towards the goose and the goose quickly moved back. as he did this, the seagull was able to escape and fly to safety. the man returned back to his car and parked it.

i sat there stunned. i couldn't believe i witnessed that. as i reflected on what happened, a verse came to my mind, romans 5:6 [NIV], "you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." that was exactly what the seagull was, powerless. it was doomed for death. it had no way of escape. no matter what it did, it couldn't escape the cluches of the goose. the situation was completely hopeless. but just when i thought the seagull's life was up, the man appeared. he came at just the right time. by showing up on the scene, he saved the seagull's life. without him, the seagull would have perished.

it was such a beautiful picture of Christ's love for me. it really brought romans 5:6 to life. because of Christ, we were delivered from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God (cf. col 1:13). He rescued us. He delivered us from death and destruction. without His help, we would have died (cf. rom 3:23). there was nothing we could have done to prevent it. no amount of good works, no amount of prayers, nothing would have saved us. there was nothing we could do to escape death. we were powerless. death was imminent. our situation hopeless and bleak. then, God, in His grace and mercy stepped on the scene, at just the right time and saved us. He rescued us and gave us life.

what an amazing God! how marvelous! how merciful! how loving! i don't ever want to lose sight of God's amazing love. everything i have and am is because of Christ. He is my hope. He is my deliverer. He is my rescuer. He is my life. He is life. He brought light into my darkness. He saved me. what a God!

"but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions?it is by grace you have been saved" - ephesians 2:4-5 [NIV]