The Right Cross at the Right Time

In December 2004, I found myself in a bind. After serving as a youth pastor for over five years at the Stronghurst Christian Church in Stronghurst, Illinois, I decided to pursue seminary with the thought of becoming a college professor. I took out a student loan and moved to Lincoln, Illinois to attend seminary. One of the big problems I faced was I couldn’t find a job. 

Meanwhile, a $3,000 credit card debt from my time in Stronghurst loomed over me, spiraling toward collections. I was helpless. It was then my dad, fresh from selling some cattle, paid it off. When I promised to repay him, he simply said, “Show me your savings account when you’ve saved $3,000.” It took a few years, but I was able to do that. In fact, that was the money I used to buy Jenny’s engagement ring and pay for our honeymoon. That act of grace from my dad is a small picture of a much bigger story.

The Bible compares sin to a debt we can’t pay. It leaves us utterly helpless, trapped in a broken world, our relationship with God fractured because we’ve chosen our way over His. There’s nothing we can do to fix it. Yet, God doesn’t abandon us. From the moment sin entered through Adam and Eve, corrupting His good creation, God set a plan in motion to rescue us—starting with those made in His image. That plan centers on love, and it unfolds most clearly on a cross. In Romans 5:6-11, the Apostle Paul unpacks this story: the problem of sin, the power of faith, and the heart of God’s love.

The Meaning of the Cross: A Sacrifice for the Undeserving

Paul writes, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ died for the ungodly at just the right time” (Romans 5:6). Our sin left us powerless, unable to undo the damage to our relationship with God, each other, and the world. Like shattered glass, it can’t be unbroken. The covenant with Israel exposed this reality, showing our separation from God and our inability to save ourselves. Yet, at the precise moment in God’s plan—“just the right time”—Jesus died for us.

Consider this: we might sacrifice our lives for someone we love—a child, a sibling, a friend. But for a stranger? A morally good person we don’t know? Unlikely. Now imagine dying for an enemy. That’s where God’s heart differs. Paul says, “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). Jesus, the righteous Son, gave His life for the ungodly—not because we deserved it, but because God’s love extends to all creation. The cross is love in action, securing eternal life and a place in God’s new creation.

The Greatness of the Cross: Justification and Reconciliation

Because of the cross, we are justified—made right in God’s sight. Sin’s penalty is death, but Jesus, the sinless One, took that penalty for us. His perfect life and sacrificial death didn’t just forgive us; they restored us as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Paul also says we’re reconciled: “Our friendship with God was restored” (Romans 5:10, NLT). More than friendship, we’re welcomed back as children, no longer enemies but family.

This salvation is secure. It’s not based on our efforts but on Jesus’ finished work. Our role? Faith—trust, loyalty, and commitment to King Jesus. Justification and reconciliation are offered to all, but only those who pledge their allegiance to Him receive them. The cross is God’s great act of love, dealing with sin’s penalty and restoring what was broken.

The Joy of the Cross: Celebrating Atonement

Paul calls us to “rejoice” in this new relationship with God (Romans 5:11). Other translations say “celebrate” or “boast.” We’re to thank God for His love, proclaim His mercy, and live with joy. The South Asia Bible commentary tells of a Nepali pastor who shared that one of the truths that drew him to Jesus was that He willingly died for His enemies—a stark contrast to gods he was taught about, who sought to destroy their foes. Our God loves even the rebellious, and that’s worth shouting about.

The cross brings atonement, a term from the Old Testament meaning to cover sin and restore the covenant. Paul uses justification and reconciliation to explain this to Gentiles: Jesus’ death deals with sin, repairing our relationship with God. This joy isn’t just for new believers—it’s how we live every day. Our hope isn’t in fleeting circumstances but in God’s promises and the return of King Jesus, who will make all things right.

Living in Light of the Cross

Romans 5:6-11 reveals God’s love poured out through Jesus’ sacrifice. The cross shows us that Christ died for the undeserving, justifies us by paying sin’s penalty, and reconciles us to God’s family. Because of this, we can rejoice—no longer slaves to sin, despair, or fear. We worship a God who loves us enough to die for us. That’s worth celebrating.

Big Idea: Jesus secured our atonement on the cross so we can be justified and reconciled to God.

We live in a sin-corrupted world. Our bodies fail, relationships fracture, and pain surrounds us. But that’s not the final word. Through Jesus’ death, we can have a new relationship with God and confidence in the future. The atonement—His perfect sacrifice—deals with our sin and restores us to our Creator.

Challenge: This week, worship God with gratitude. Whether through music, prayer, or reading Psalms, express the joy of the reconciliation Jesus made possible.

Closing Thought: At just the right moment, Jesus came to rescue creation from sin’s corruption—evil, pain, disease, and death. He did it through a Roman cross, an unlikely tool for victory. His sacrifice atoned for our sins, giving us hope and a place in God’s Kingdom. Because of Jesus, we can live confidently as part of His family.

Prayer:

• Thank God for the new relationship He offers through Jesus.
• Ask forgiveness for ongoing sin.
• Commit to following King Jesus with trust and loyalty.

Let’s live in the joy of the cross, proclaiming God’s love to a world that needs to hear it.

Sunday Prayer: Awe and Gratitude

Gracious Father,

I come before You in awe and gratitude, for while I was still weak—lost in sin and far from You—Christ died for me. Not because I earned it, not because I was righteous, but because of Your overwhelming love and mercy. You sent Your Son to die for the ungodly, to rescue all of humankind when we could not rescue ourselves.

Thank You for the cross, for the blood that justifies me, and for the reconciliation I now have through Jesus. I rejoice that I am no longer Your enemy, but Your beloved child, brought near by the sacrifice of Christ. Help that truth sink deep into my heart and shape the way I live each day.

Help me to live in the joy of my salvation, to walk in the confidence of Your love, and to share the Gospel with a world still longing for hope. May I never take for granted the grace that saved me and the peace I now have with You through King Jesus.

In His mighty name I pray,

Amen.

Getting Out of the Dark

 “But somehow he was comforted. It was rather splendid to be wearing a blade made in Gondolin for the goblin-wars of which so many songs had sung; and also he had noticed that such weapons made a great impression on goblins that came upon them suddenly.

“’Go back?’ he thought. ‘No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do!’ So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”
— The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Bilbo Baggins was in over his head. Far from the warm glow of his hobbit hole in the Shire, he was lost in the shadowy depths of the Misty Mountains. His friends were nowhere to be found, and worse, goblins were on his trail. Alone in the dark, he faced a moment of reckoning.

As panic crept in, Bilbo’s hand brushed against the elvish dagger at his side—Sting, a weapon crafted for legendary wars. It wasn’t much, and he was no warrior, but holding it sparked something in him. That small glimmer of courage was enough to push him forward through the suffocating blackness.

Sound familiar? We all have those days—moments when life feels like a cave with no exit. The questions pile up: What now? Where do I turn? Who’s got my back? When everything feels uncertain and overwhelming, Bilbo’s story offers a surprising lifeline.

For Bilbo, Sting wasn’t just a blade—it was a symbol of hope, a tool that unsettled his enemies and steadied his nerves. But the Bible hands us something far sharper and more powerful:

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
(Hebrews 4:12, CSB)

God’s Word cuts deeper than any weapon. It slices through confusion, exposes the enemy’s lies, and lights the way when we’re stumbling in the dark. The more we lean into Scripture—letting it sink into our minds and hearts—the stronger we become to face whatever’s ahead.

With Sting in hand, Bilbo weighed his options. Going back wasn’t possible; the goblins were behind him. Sideways? The cave walls said no. Forward was the only path, so he took it—one shaky step at a time.

The Apostle Paul had a similar mindset:

“Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:13-14, CSB)

Like Bilbo, we can’t rewind time. The past—whether it’s regrets or even a comfortable yesterday—can’t be our anchor. Clinging too hard to what was blinds us to what could be. The only way out is forward, trusting God’s lead.

So, if you find yourself in a dark place—lost, scared, or alone—don’t throw in the towel. Pick up your sword. Open the Bible and let its truth steady you. Then take that next step, wherever He points you.

Bilbo did it. You can too.

Shattered Dreams: Far Too Easily Pleased

Part 4 of 4 in the “Shattered Dreams” Series

“We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

What does God dream for us? If His vision holds the key to true joy, don’t we owe it to ourselves to uncover it? Yet, when our own dreams lie in ruins, how do we even start to see His?

It’s hard to imagine the life God created us to live because, as C. S. Lewis points out, “we are far too easily pleased.”This idea stings because it’s true. We cling to our small, fragile plans—chasing comfort, approval, control—while God holds out something vast and unshakable. Our shattered dreams, painful as they are, might just be the crack that lets His light in.

God doesn’t give us a checklist to decode His will. He’s not a vending machine for truth. History proves He meets us uniquely—molding His call to our quirks and stories. Still, Scripture lights the way. In John 13–17, we find five traits of the life He envisions, a dream that emerges when ours fall apart.

1. Servanthood Over Status

“And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done” (John 13:14–15, NLT).

Jesus, the Lord of all, took a towel and washed grimy feet. He doesn’t want random acts of kindness—He calls us to live as servants. We dream of being catered to; God dreams of us stooping low to lift others up.

2. Love as Our Witness

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my friends” (John 13:34–35, NLT).

Jesus poured love on everyone, but it burned brightest among His disciples. This love starts with the church—our care for each other marks us as His. We dream of being adored; God dreams of us loving fiercely first.

3. Rooted in Jesus

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).

On our own, we’re weak—tripping over our flaws. Jesus says we can’t live God’s dream without Him. Prayer, Scripture, worship, and community tether us to Him, pulling our eyes off ourselves. We dream of self-reliance; God dreams of us abiding in Jesus.

4. Guided by the Spirit

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard” (John 16:13, NLT).

Voices clamor—logic, trends, temptation. Jesus heard them too, rejecting Satan’s deals and the crowd’s crown. We lean toward what’s sensible; God dreams of us tuning our ears to His Spirit.

5. United in Purpose

“My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me, and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me” (John 17:21, NLT).

Jesus’s mission flowed from His oneness with the Father—a unity He prays for us. We’re not meant to be lone rangers. We dream of standing apart; God dreams of us woven together in love and mission.

Shattered dreams sting—no denying it. But as Lewis saw, we’re too easily pleased with mud pies when God offers the sea. That pain can wake us up, exposing the flimsiness of our plans and pointing us to His eternal vision. When we chase God’s dream, we find the joy we’ve been groping for in the dark. Our brokenness isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something bigger.

What’s one piece of God’s dream stirring in you now that you want to experience? Drop your thoughts—I’d love to hear.