“Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, for such a worm as I?” (At The Cross). I suppose the words to this song are repulsive to some, which is why in some versions part of it has been changed from “worm” to “one.” The fact of the matter is, while God loves us with an incomparable devotion, by choosing sin, we have allowed Satan to replace being created in God’s image with what distorts that image and destroys instead. We must have a clear vision of both sides of life.
We do have a sin problem; everyone has a sin problem. “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even Paul spoke of how he struggled with not doing what he should, as well as doing what he shouldn’t (Romans 7:15). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), not only physical death, but also spiritual death—eternal separation from the Father and eternal punishment in hell (John 3:36b). Our sins cost the life of Jesus on the cross that we might be redeemed from our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19). This is the degradation that sin brings to our lives.
Yet, God loves us infinitely. Knowing we would sin before He ever created us, He not only made us but also planned the death of Christ as the means of our forgiveness (Ephesians 1:5-10). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) as our guarantee God will be faithful to fulfill His purpose in us through Christ. He continues to cleanse as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7), and this assures us nothing will ever separate us from God’s love for us, through Christ (Romans 8:38-39). We have all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), offered in every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), providing for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). This is the glory we share as children of God.
We must have, then, a balanced perspective of our lives. No human is so much scum or so worthless that God doesn’t love, care or want saved. On the other hand, no human is so great that God couldn’t accomplish His purposes without him. When a person feels insignificant and that his or her life is meaningless, never forget Christ! When a person feels exalted and feeds his or her ego on such, never forget Christ! God loves every person enough to sacrifice Christ, but every person’s sins caused God to sacrifice Christ. With Him, we have everything, and without Him we are nothing.
Next time you feel depressed or overly proud, go to the cross and have your perspective renewed.
“Thus might I hide my blushing face, While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay, The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘Tis all that I can do.”
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
