Radical Sacrifice

How many sermons about Jesus dying for us do we need to listen to before we will become a different church? Sometimes I wonder if saying some bad words will get our attention & awaken us to the radical truth, this unparalleled story of God dying for man. Can I grasp the magnitude of such a gift, the expense, the radical act of sacrificial love, the depth of unselfishness, the expanse of mercy & grace that rescues a chaotic world from the destruction of sin & selfishness? Can I grasp the intensity of sin, its hideousness, its hellishness, it destructive power & damning purpose? When I see Jesus broken, beaten, abused, mocked, tortured beyond comprehension, am I awakened to the putrid reality of my sin? God in his infinite wisdom declared that without sacrifice there would be no redemption. That sacrifice was a life given to redeem. Not merely something, but a living being had to be given to pay the price. A sacrifice that cost-a life was given, death was experienced, someone had to stop breathing & enter the darkness of death to become my Savior. The gap, the chaos of sin & selfishness that exists between man & God demanded a sacrifice greater than I can give. The Son left heaven, emptied himself, laid down His life, took my place, died my death, became sin for me-hideous, obnoxious, repulsive sin-the holy, sinless one got the raw end of the deal so that I can be alive & free & know rest of God & escape chaos.