by Ptr Dani Dastillo
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
Joe Kerkofsky was America’s blood donor champion. The American Association of Blood Banks honoured the 62-year-old retired security guard at a special presentation in Chicago. Mr. Kerkofsky lost an arm in an accident when he was six. He was then rejected for military service in World War II. But this did not stop him from serving his fellowmen. Since that time he has donated nearly 31 gallons of blood. The human body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood. Joe has donated more than 20 times that amount of blood in his body. “Giving blood makes you feel like contributing life itself,” he says. “There’s no more precious a gift than life. Money can’t buy the joy of giving blood to help someone who needs it.”
Very true indeed, life is in the blood. You lose your blood, you lose life! I know of Someone who shed His blood and gave His life, that not only 20 but multitudes of people could live; and not only to live their lifespan, but live eternally. His name is Jesus Christ.
When we were helpless and needed life, Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. When we were still powerless, unable to even get ready to be right with Him, He did not and does not wait. He presented Himself when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We have been “ungodly,” meaning not naturally seeking God therefore, really undeserving of God’s attention, or meriting any favor from Him. Yes, we can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But in the case of Jesus, it was different. God put His love on the line for us while, really when we were of no use whatsoever to Him, by offering His Son as the sole solution to the sin problem that separated man and God.
Yes, Christ died for the ungodly! He did this without condition; as is, where is! In other words, as if we have not wronged God! And He did this “at the due time,” when it was most fitting that it should take place. But “unconditional” encompasses not only forgiveness of what we have been or what we have done. It promises future benefits of becoming friend or allies with the almighty God (Rom 5:9-10) and adoption into His royal family (Gal 4:4). If that is not love, I really don’t know what is.
Do you believe in this kind of God’s undeserving yet unconditional love? If you believe, then you should under stand why Jesus said: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. I pray that we all grasp God’s pursuing love for you and me, and respond by giving back our lives, as Christ gave His.
Forever grateful for Christ’s love,
Pastor Dani Castillo
