A Worthy Substitute

Easter Sunday i heard a sermon on the Emmaus Road experience the disciples had after Christ had risen. They did not recognize Him, as they were preoccupied trying to figure out why things didn't go as they thought they should. And do we recognize Him as Risen Savior in the midst of our disappointments? It was a good sermon, however my thoughts were led to something the preacher probably didn't intend with his message.

The pastor posed a question: What is the greatest desire you have? My immediate response was clear, a longing for someone i miss very deeply (possibly not the best desire at this point, but an honest one). He shared that 20 years ago his and his wife's greatest desire was to have children. However, it was biologically an impossibility, though they long prayed for a miracle.

So in the midst of pursuing other desires, an opportunity for a career move was presented. It seemed to be all they had dreamed and prayed for (outside of having children). As they took some time to pray, expecting God to rubber stamp their decision, they both sensed God giving them a resounding 'No' instead! They could go ahead pursuing this plan, and though God may still bless them, they sensed it would not be the best plan as God had something better in mind.

After rejecting the wonderful offer, they remained living in the same place. Within weeks they were approached by a young pregnant teenager in the area who felt led to ask them to adopt her child since she did not have the means to look after the child herself. They knew this was God's plan. Sometime later another single gal was led to do the same. Now they have two beautiful kids, all orchestrated by God. Would have this happened if they had moved away? Who knows, but possibly not.

So was this God's ideal plan? I don't think so. Ideally kids should be born into secure and stable homes. But this plan was a worthy substitute for the kids who's biological mothers couldn't provide for them. It was also a worthy substitute for this couple who couldn't have kids of their own. What it is is God's redemptive plan for things that went as they shouldn't have.

Isn't that the story of the resurrection? Was sacrificing Jesus God's ideal plan? Not at all! His ideal plan was for man to never sin, but man did. Christ was The Worthy Substitute to restore us to Him.

I've often wrestled with finding God's ideal plan for my life, be it in work, ministry or relationships. And i often get hung up and kick myself for missing out on God's best for me. Yes, i've screwed-up countless times! But who hasn't? No human has ever got God's ideal plan right from the beginning of time. Everyone has screwed-up. Just look at biblical characters, David committed adultery and murder, Moses killed an Egyptian and ended up wandering in the wilderness for decades before God called him back. Would have things been different if these men didn't mess up? Sure, God may have had better wife in mind for David, He may have rescued the Jews from slavery decades earlier if Moses hadn't committed manslaughter...

It's always been about redeeming what was lost with a worthy substitute. Starting with our relationship with God, to our vocation, family, and relationships with others. We can't control the outcome of bad decisions, not ours nor those of others. But we can be open to His redemptive plan, if we allow Him to redeem our failures and those of others, in this fallen and broken world.