Glorious music exploded from the orchestra pit exactly on the conductor’s mark. Bows drew melodiously over strings. Trumpets blasted triumphantly. Flutes and piccolos trilled their joy. Bassoons and double basses leaving mellow tones behind to join the celebration. Above the orchestra, nearly vibrating with carefully leashed excitement, the angelic choir, radiant of face and impeccably clothed in unblemished garments, burst into the most beautiful refrain, “Holy! Holy! Holy! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” As their ebullient music lifted to surround the Father’s throne, their hearts swelled with the truth of their words. He had done it. The Creator’s masterpiece was complete. It was finished.
Seven-time frames past, there had been an enormous, dark void. Nothing lived there. Nothing existed. Then He filled it with His glory. Every blade of grass, rock formation, stately tree, rainbowed fish, and patterned hide spoke of the power and majesty of their Creator. Over seven days, as they watched God the Father carefully think and plan, speak and create, form and place, the angelic host impatiently waited for the words they knew were coming, “It is good!” And each time they heard the words, their cheers resounded throughout the heavens. It was indeed good. All of it. More than good. It was glorious!
When the final element, man, lie unmoving in the dust from which he was meticulously formed, the angels held their breath. Creeping to lean over the edge of the clouds, they watched in fascination as the Father leaned down right into the face of His creation, and gently breathed life into his nostrils. Palpable excitement raced through the heavenly host as man sucked in his first breath. Then another. And another. Unrivaled adoration flowed from their lips, quieted only by the anticipation of His words. Looking down on light and darkness, land and sea, plants, animals, and humanity, God’s declaration rang out one final time. “It is very good!” Unable to harness their exaltation, the heavens reverberated with the resounding notes of the heavenly host raising their voices in praise to the Almighty Father whose glorious creation continually shouts out the message–He does everything well. (Genesis 1; Job 38:4,7; Colossians 1:16; Exodus 20:11; Isaiah 6:3)
In the time that followed–years, centuries, millennia–the angels would watch in confusion, frustration, consternation as the people God so lovingly and painstakingly created would reject Him for their own desires. Trade His glory for something far inferior. Idols of wood and stone were erected. Strange practices adopted. Unauthorized sacrifices offered. It would never turn out well. Their new gods would hold them in bondage, keeping them enslaved with no obvious way to freedom. No way but through God. Hopeless and helpless, the people would turn back to Him and cry out for rescue, ransom, removal from their current untenable situation. And because He so deeply loved the ones He had so fastidiously created, God would answer. Every time.
Finally, in a grand gesture of love and grace, the Master Planner enacted His greatest rescue ever. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth as a ransom for everyone who sinned, everyone who strayed, everyone who chose a god before God. As the heavenly Babe was placed in a feeding trough, the heavenly host again burst into song over a field full of dozing sheep and sleepy shepherds. Their voices lit up the night sky with a song full of words they’d been singing since the dawn of Creation, “Glory to God in the highest!” God’s glory had truly come to dwell among men. Surely this would bring all men to Him! (Luke 2:1-19; John 1:14)
Unfortunately, it didn’t. The people He had so carefully created had made an idol of the law. They were convinced they could earn their way to eternal life. They were busy checking and correcting themselves and everyone else. They were no longer enamored with the glory of creation. They were no longer gobsmacked at His outrageous acts of deliverance. So bound were they by observing their religious edicts, they didn’t recognize God’s Son when He came. They didn’t like His teachings. They weren’t persuaded by His miracles. They staunchly refused His proffered peace. Instead, they chose to persecute Him, tried to entrap Him, plotted to kill Him. Eventually, their plot came to fruition.
On that day, the inky darkness of the sky made the view of earth nearly impossible. Angels crowded the edge of the clouds, watching as the Ransom from Heaven was paid. Deafening silence blanketed the air. Songs of praise were silent. The joy of Heaven hung on a cross, beaten beyond recognition, shredded flesh hanging from His back, blood trickling down His brow, dripping from nail-pierced hands and feet. Yet these atrocities were not the worst part of the scene. Although humanity couldn’t see it, didn’t realize it, wouldn’t understand it, mounds of sin in every variation were piled around the foot of His cross. Heavy bags of hate and anger hung from His outstretched arms. Jealousy, idolatry, adultery sat atop His shoulders. They were not His own. No. The sin of all humanity–past, present, and future–were laid against Him. The scene was nothing short of horrific.
Tears dripping from chins, lips compressed to hold back sobs, the angels once again waited for Someone to speak. Silence emanated from the throne room. The Father, anguished and heartbroken, eyes squeezed shut, had literally turned His face from the scene on earth. If they were waiting on words from God sending them into action, the wait was in vain. He wasn’t going to stop the exchange. His Son for a world of sinners. It was the only way. Heaven would exchange their joy for mourning so humanity could exchange their mourning for joy.
As the cry, “It is finished!” split the air, the angels silently crept away from Heaven’s border. The worst was over. The ransom was paid. The Son was coming home. Dreadfully lost, sinful, hypocritical, self-righteous humanity could now choose eternal life. There were only a handful of prerequisites. Salvation. Sacrifice. Surrender. (Matthew 27:27-44; Mark 15:16-41; Isaiah 53:8; John 16:7)
The call to salvation is easily accepted. The call to sacrifice and surrender was not. It stops us short. Holds us in limbo. We are hesitant to capitulate. Resistant. Resentful. Why? Because we are no different than the people of the Old Testament. Our idols have simply taken on a different form. Instead of actual carvings of wood and stone set in temples and shrines, our idols are cars and boats and houses and shoes. They are money and titles. Prestige and power. Fame and followers. Summed up, our idol is self. Attention. Adoration. Accolades. Accomplishments. We are loath to let them go…even in exchange for our souls.
In Matthew 13, Jesus speaks a short parable of a man who knew the worth of sacrifice. A pearl merchant, he searches the world over for pearls worthy of his money and attention. It is his life’s mission. The desire of his heart. His sole obsession. Surely he had acquired an enormous collection of valuable pearls, their worth as much in the owning and showing as the monetary value. While out on yet another pearl hunt, the merchant comes across the most beautiful, perfect, valuable pearl he has ever seen. It is outside his price range. He could never afford it on his salary. Unless he sells the rest of his collection. And so he does. Racing home, he gathers the precious collection it has taken a lifetime to accrue, travels to the nearest jeweler, and sells them all. Every. Single. One. The pain of losing them is nearly physical. Quickly completing the sale, he hurries back to the place he found that valuable pearl, sighing with relief when he sees it still in the case. Walking up to the counter, he hands over every cent of his former collection’s earnings to buy that one pearl. It took everything he had, but it was worth it. (Matthew 13:45-46)
So what is your soul worth? What is Heaven worth to you? Is it worth more than that thing you are holding onto? Is it worth more than that possession, dream, idea that has your heart enamored, your sight enraptured, your soul enslaved. Is it worth more than your dearest earthly treasure? Is everything you have, everything you are, everything you hope to be worth more than your soul? Or would you give it all up to follow Jesus? Could you? Is Jesus worth it? The God who created everything from nothing sent His only Son so you who had nothing could have something too. Something real. Something lasting. Something eternal. Something that allows you to exchange the mourning of your sin-laden soul for the glorious joy of salvation. Heaven gave Jesus in exchange for your eternity. What will you give in exchange for your soul? (Mark 8:37; Isaiah 61:3; Proverbs 16:4; Colossians 1:16)
Thank God for Jesus!!!