-Proverbs 3:5–6

I recently read the story of Dennis Wong. Dennis was a Division II collegiate football player. He rarely got on the field, but he loved being part of the team. After putting together an impressive string of wins, Dennis and his teammates made it all the way to the conference finals.

The evening before the big game, Coach was in his hotel room going over the next day’s game plan. He was interrupted by a frantic knock at the door. He opened it to find a somewhat distraught-looking Dennis. Coach asked, “What’s up?”

Dennis got right to the point. “Coach, you have to put me in tomorrow. Please, you’ve gotta let me play!”

After hearing the intensity in his voice, Coach promised he’d consider it.

Game time rolled around, and the starting lineup was announced. Coach decided to let Dennis play on special teams for the opening kickoff, and then he’d go back to the bench as a backup. Dennis’ team kicked off, and he streaked down the field like a man on a mission. The return man fielded the kick when, suddenly and violently, he was hit and the ball popped loose. It was Dennis, and his team recovered the fumble!

They managed a field goal and took the early lead. The plan was to put Dennis back on the bench, but after that play, Coach had no choice but to keep him in. Dennis was a force on the field and played like a man possessed. He made big play after big play. With seconds remaining in the game and the team needing one final stop, who was there to make the tackle? Dennis Wong.

Time expired, and as the buzzer sounded, the fans flooded the field. They were conference champions.

The celebration in the locker room went on for quite some time. Slowly, the euphoria died down, and the players showered and headed home. Coach noticed one player, still in full equipment, sitting alone in the corner, sobbing. It was Dennis.

Coach made his way over and asked, “What’s wrong? You just played the greatest game of your life!”

Dennis gathered himself and replied, “Coach, you remember my dad, right?”

“Of course! He always loved to come and listen to us practice.”

Dennis’ father was legally blind.

With tears streaming down his face, Dennis said, “My dad passed away last week, and this was the first time he was able to see me play.”

For the record, I don’t think that’s a true story. But if you are a Christian, it is your story.

Your heavenly Father is watching you play in the game of life. You play for an audience of One.

Stephen played for an audience of One. He was the church’s first martyr and received the first-ever standing ovation in the heavenly realms. We read about it in Acts 7.

Stephen was proclaiming the gospel to a crowd that would soon turn into a mob. The more he pleaded with them to turn to Jesus, the angrier they became. Finally, the mob picked up stones and hurled them at Stephen. With each deadly blow, life drained from his beaten body.

But when he looked up, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He heard the applause of heaven and received a standing ovation from the very Son of God.

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

-Acts 7:54–55

The boos from the crowd were overpowered by the applause of heaven.

We often hear it said, “Let’s not forget the reason for the season.” However, let’s take it a step further and say,” Let’s celebrate the reason for the season every day.”

As we awaken each day, we can be filled with joy and gratitude as we remember the greatest gift we ever received, and His name is Jesus.

Mathew 1:21-23  She will give birth to a Son, and you will give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel (God with us.) 

 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John3:16)

For all who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we can daily be filled with the Joy of our Salvation and find ways to bring joy to others. 

Think about it… Christmas is all about the joy of giving. We celebrate Christmas because of a loving Heavenly Father who so loved us that He gave the most sacrificial of all gifts. He sent His own Son in the form of a babe, who would give his life as an atonement for our sins. 

One of my favorite Christmas Carols is “Joy to the World,” and this song can be a reflection of our lives. 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King 

Let every heart prepare him room

Let Heaven and nature sing

Let heaven and nature sing

Let Heaven Let heaven and nature sing

Every day we can awaken to the Joy!! 

Our hearts filled with joy as we prepare our heart to make room for him daily

As we acknowledge him as our Savior our Lord and our King!! 

As we pray the way Jesus taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” 

We can truly celebrate Christmas every day through the joy of giving.

The real spirit of Christmas is giving, loving, caring, and serving

Every day we can share the love of Christ with our families, our friends, and whoever comes into our path each day  We can share our faith …we can generously give to the ones less fortunate than us… we can be willing to serve others as needs arrive… We can pray for and with others.

 As we pray to our Heavenly Father daily, what will develop is an ever-increasing close and loving  relationship with Him. He will lead and guide us into His perfect will.  A life that is filled with His peace and joy …the joy of our salvation   

Christmas in July …. I say, “Let’s celebrate Christmas every day.”

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

The difference is I love this outfit even more than my designer jeans. You see, the fit is perfect, because God hand-tailored this outfit just for me.

As I awaken each morning, I put on each piece one at a time. I put on compassion, I put on kindness, I put on humility, I put on gentleness, I put on patience. And as I do, I am keenly aware that I am a temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…

And the fruit, or outward manifestation, of the Holy Spirit is this:

Galatians 6:22, 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

As I gaze in the mirror as I dress for the day, I am learning to see myself through God’s eyes. My daily prayer is that I would be a reflection of these virtues to others.

So as you awaken each day, I encourage you to put on the Divine Attire that God has hand-tailored just for you.

And let’s not forget the “Armor of God” that is found in Ephesians 6:10-11, 14-17.

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the enemy’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:14-17
Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place. And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

We as Christians are encouraged to put this on daily to protect ourselves from spiritual attacks, temptation, and negativity.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

On December 28, 2000, the Atlanta Thrashers were about to face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. I had signed with Atlanta as a free agent in the offseason, but I was not playing well. I was shuffled in and out of the lineup that season, and the coach told me I wouldn’t play against the Rangers that evening. However, he did want me to take warmups in case someone got injured prior to the game, although that rarely happened.

I put on my gear, laced up my skates, and took pregame warmups with my teammates at MSG. Afterwards, I started taking my equipment off when Coach pulled me aside. ‘Adam, you’re in! One of the guys was injured during warmups. Be ready to go!’ Just like that, I was back in the game.

We won convincingly that night, 4–1. I logged a ton of ice time and played really well. In fact, Coach pulled me aside after the game and told me, ‘That’s the best game I’ve ever seen you play.’ Little did I know it would be my last game.

The following night, we traveled to Long Island to take on the Islanders. I’d been experiencing severe back pain but tried to muscle through it. My back held up for a whopping three minutes before several discs ruptured during the game. I would never play hockey again.

Early in my NHL career, it felt like playing hockey was never going to end. Then suddenly, it did. Just like the eight-and-a-half-period marathon game against Pittsburgh (The Longest Game) felt like it was never going to end. But suddenly, it did too.

Our lives may feel like they’re never going to end. But one day, they will. I pray that on that day you hear the Lord tell you, ‘That’s the best game I’ve ever seen you play.’ I hope your last game is your best game.

James describes the brevity of life this way:

“You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14 NKJV)

Greg Koehler’s NHL career consisted of one shift totaling four seconds…

Listen to God’s response:

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” (Luke 12:20 ESV)

Translation: Your four seconds are up! You should have leveraged everything you had to love God and love people. Instead, you wasted your life focusing on the unholy trinity: Me, Myself, and I. Now your soul is required of you. Time is up.

Joshua made it clear what he was going to do with his four seconds:

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 ESV)

What will you do with your four seconds? Make your last game your best game.

Immediately, I started taking inventory of my abilities. Was I the best skater? No. The best puck
handler? No. The best offensive player? No. The best defensive player? No. Panic started to set
in. I didn’t do any one thing better than everyone else. Then it hit me. I was pretty good at
everything. That would be my one thing. Who would have guessed that being above average in
every aspect of the game could carve out a 14-year NHL career? But it did. It was my one thing.
What’s your one thing?

In Matthew 22, Jesus defines our one thing. There were 613 laws in the Old Testament—365
negative commands (“Thou shalt not”) and 248 positive commands (“Thou shalt”). When asked
which commandment was the greatest, Jesus boiled it all down to one thing:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the
Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Jesus essentially summarizes the entire Bible in one word: LOVE. Love God. Love people. That
is the Christian’s superpower. That is how we win in life.

The Apostle Paul loved the church in Philippi. He had birthed that church through tremendous
sacrifice and suffering, and he desperately wanted to see it flourish. Notice how he prays for
them: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more…” (Philippians
1:9). Isn’t that interesting? Paul doesn’t pray that their theology would abound more and more.
He doesn’t pray that their Bible reading would abound more and more. He doesn’t even pray
that their prayer life would abound more and more. He prays that their love would abound more
and more. Paul understood that if you get the love part right, everything else follows. Bible
reading, prayer, obedience, service, generosity—they all flow from a heart captivated by love for
God. Love is the one thing that impacts everything.

“Love God and do whatever you please; for the soul trained in love to God will do
nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.” — St. Augustine

Over the course of my hockey career, I was blessed to represent the United States five times. It
is difficult to describe the thrill of wearing the red, white, and blue. At seventeen years old, I was
invited to Colorado Springs to try out for the USA Under-17 National Team, a precursor to future
Olympic and international competition. The best young players from around the country were
there, and years later several of them would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As a young Christian, I was on my very best behavior. Not because I was particularly holy, but
because I wanted God to bless me and help me make the team. I was up early reading my
Bible. I spent extra time in prayer. I watched my language. I did all the right things. After three
grueling days of competition, the final roster was posted. Players crowded around the bulletin
board, frantically searching for their names. I still remember the rush of relief and joy when I
found mine. I made the team.

My heart overflowed with gratitude toward God. Then I did what any immature Christian might
do after God answered his prayers—I went out and got hammered drunk with my teammates.
I’m not proud of that moment, but God used it to change my life.

Around one o’clock in the morning, as we stumbled through downtown Colorado Springs, an
evangelist approached us on a street corner. “Do you know Jesus Christ?” he asked. My
teammates laughed him off and continued toward the next bar. But I couldn’t shake those
words. Do you know Jesus Christ? The question followed me. Almost instantly, a soberness
settled over me. I sat down alone on a curb, but I wasn’t alone. The presence of God was
unmistakably near.

The Lord spoke to my heart—not audibly, but clearly. He drew a line in the sand and asked,
“Adam, do you want to use Me for stuff, or do you want to love Me for Me?” That question
changed everything. In that moment, I realized I wanted the Lord more than the things He could
give me. Jesus wasn’t simply a means to an end. He was the end. Jesus went from being useful
to being beautiful.

Elisabeth Elliot tells an apocryphal story in her book These Strange Ashes. One day Jesus asks
His disciples, “Will you carry a stone for Me?” Peter picks up the smallest stone he can find and
follows Jesus. Later, Jesus tells them to sit down and take out their stones. He miraculously
turns them into bread, and Peter enjoys his small lunch.

The next day Jesus again asks, “Will you carry a stone for Me?” This time Peter finds the largest
stone he can possibly carry. He struggles beneath its weight for miles, expecting an even
greater reward. Finally, Jesus says, “Throw down your stones.” Peter eagerly waits. Nothing
happens. Jesus simply says, “Follow Me.” Confused, Peter stares at the stone and then back at
Jesus. The Lord asks, “Peter, who were you carrying the stone for?”

Ouch.

Who are you carrying the stone for? Do you obey God because you love Him, or because you
hope to get something from Him? Do you love God?

My wife Susan and I have been married for more than thirty-five years. We met in high school.
She was the prettiest girl in our senior class. That’s not just my opinion—I’m pretty sure it was
an established fact. After our first date, Susan told me she knew we would someday be married.
I wish she had told me that sooner. I spent most of our dating relationship terrified she was
going to dump me.

Here is a confession I’m not particularly proud of. At first, I was dating Susan because she was
beautiful. I wasn’t thinking deeply about her dreams, her calling, or even her soul. I just thought
she was beautiful. That may be enough to start a relationship, but it is certainly not enough to
sustain one. Over time, I got to know her. Friendship deepened into love. Respect grew. Shared
experiences bonded us together. That is what has sustained our marriage for more than three
decades.

My relationship with Jesus has been remarkably similar. I remember surrendering my life to
Christ at eleven years old after hearing a fiery sermon that essentially asked, “Do you want to
spend eternity in hell or eternity with Jesus?” Even as an eleven-year-old, the answer seemed
obvious. “I’ll take Jesus.” If I’m honest, I wanted fire insurance. I simply didn’t want to go to hell.
That may be an acceptable place to start, but it is a terrible place to stay.

Over the years, I cultivated a relationship with Christ. As I got to know Him, my love for Him
deepened. I discovered that Christianity is not primarily about escaping hell. It is about knowing
Jesus. Heaven is not merely a place for people who are afraid of hell. It is a place for people
who love God.

So let me ask you, what’s your one thing?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

It seems fear and anxiety about tomorrow were problems for Paul back then and for us today.
The antidote for fear and anxiety is also the same today as it was then — prayer. When you feel
the weight of care, it becomes a warning signal to pray.

Growing up in the ’80s, the rock group Van Halen ruled the airwaves. They sold out venues
around the globe. As their fan base grew, so did their elaborate stage sets and pyrotechnic
shows. Smoke machines, lighting, and the occasional explosion made each show increasingly
dangerous. The margin for error was slim. Lead singer David Lee Roth added a clause to the
contract between the venue and the band. It became known as the “M&M Clause.” A bowl of
M&M’s had to be available backstage at all times, and all the brown M&M’s had to be removed
from the bowl, or the contract was considered null and void. The band would then receive all the
revenue. It was what they called a “trip-wire clause.”

The band knew that if there were brown M&M’s in the bowl, the venue staff had not read the
contract carefully. Therefore, they probably had not read the safety precautions carefully either
— and the band could be in danger. It was a trip-wire.

God has given you a trip-wire clause as well. When worry, fear, and anxiety begin bubbling up
in your soul, that becomes the trip-wire. It’s time to pray. Notice the sequence: as we release
our cares to God in prayer, the promise is a peace that “surpasses understanding.” The peace
of God will literally “guard” our hearts and minds from the onslaught of fear and anxiety.

GOD’S GOT TOMORROW

Tomorrow isn’t a place God wonders about. It’s a place He already is. That should be
unbelievably comforting to you. A loving and benevolent Father waits for you in tomorrow.

Allow me to illustrate. Luca Manfè was a member of my church and a friend. I performed his
wedding to his lovely wife, Catherine. By the way, the food at the reception was outstanding. It
was prepared by a “MasterChef.”

I remember the day Luca pulled me aside after church and told me he would be gone for the
next few months. He was taking another shot at becoming a contestant on MasterChef. He had
tried the previous year during Season 3 but was unsuccessful. We prayed together, and off he
went to compete.

Eventually, he returned, and I asked him how it went. He said he had signed an NDA (Non-
Disclosure Agreement) and couldn’t talk about it. The show is filmed months in advance.

The first few episodes of MasterChef Season 4 didn’t go great for Luca. He struggled through
many of the early rounds, but his charisma and personality carried him through. Then, midway
through the competition, something changed. Luca began hitting his stride and finding his
groove. Eventually, he cooked his way all the way to the grand finale.

Luca rented out a local restaurant and invited close friends and family to watch the finale
together in suspense. I was nervous, and so was everyone else. Well… almost everyone. Luca
was cool as a cucumber.

The judges’ decision was in. The room fell silent as we all leaned forward to the edge of our
seats.

“And the winner of Season 4 MasterChef is… Luca Manfè!!!!”

The room erupted! We couldn’t believe it. But Luca could. He wasn’t surprised at all. He had
already lived that reality. He had already been there.

God is not wondering about your tomorrow. He is already there. He’s waiting for you. He has
EVERYTHING you need to do ALL He has called you to do. God’s got your tomorrow. Trust
Him and be faithful with today.

The painting’s original name was “Die Schachspieler,” though today it is better known as
“Checkmate.” The painting depicts a satanic-looking character playing chess against a
perplexed and defeated young man. An angel looks on with pity.

“Checkmate.” The devil wins.
I’ve had moments in my life when I felt like that young man — stuck and defeated, with no way
out and no way forward. But with Jesus, you always have another move.
Paul Morphy was a chess phenom. He learned to play by age ten and became a chess master
at the ripe old age of seventeen. He traveled the world defeating anyone who dared challenge
him. Amazingly, he retired from competitive chess at age twenty-one. As a bit of a celebrity,
Morphy was invited to the home of Reverend R.R. Harrison, along with several other Virginian
elites. Hanging on the wall in the reverend’s home was a painting that mesmerized Morphy:
“Checkmate.”
He felt a strange sense of sorrow for the young man in the painting. It provoked him. Morphy
studied the painting for several minutes. Finally, he blurted out:
“He has another move! I can win with that board!”

The stunned host obliged the chess master and recreated the painting’s chessboard. Morphy
did indeed have another move — a series of maneuvers that defeated his satanic opponent. He
won! [20]
And that is our story.
All looked lost when they placed Jesus in the tomb 2,000 years ago. But it wasn’t over. He had
another move. He rose from the grave. In doing so, He defeated death and the devil on our
behalf.
With Jesus, you always have another move.
Remember: whoever gets up the most wins in life. When the devil says, “Checkmate,” don’t
believe it. You always have another move.
“Get up.”
“Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.”
That’s how you win in life — and I want you to win.

In Isaiah 43:19, God declares, “See, I am doing a new thing — now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

This scripture captures the essence of spring in spiritual truth, where we see the transformation of the world around us. I particularly love seeing the trees as they start to bud — all the brilliant colors: the pinks, the purple, the magenta, the lavender, the yellow, the maroon. A beautiful symphony of new life. Multiple shades of green and brightly colored flowers bloom in my neighborhood, and the sweet sound of singing birds fills the atmosphere.

One of my favorite pastimes in spring is taking a walk around my neighborhood. It’s just so pretty here. Another is to sit out and experience the first feel of sun on my skin as I read my Bible or a Christian romance novel, and in the early evening to sit out on my porch. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons of the year.

As we step into the freshness and newness of spring, let us be reminded of the hope and new life we have in Christ. The blooming flowers and warming weather represent God’s intentional design and His gift of beauty and hope after a dark winter. The growth seen in spring mirrors the spiritual growth and restoration that Christ brings to our lives.

Spring acts as a metaphor for spiritual rejuvenation, prompting us to shed old ways and experience a fresh start.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone, the new has come.”

This scripture states that anyone united to Christ is a brand new creation, as the old spiritual life — characterized by sin and separation from God — has passed away, and a new life in Him has begun.

Just as nature comes back to life, the resurrection of Jesus signifies overcoming death and offering new eternal life to all who believe.

This spring, as you step into the beauty of God’s creation, let it be a time of reflecting on God’s goodness, grace, and restoration. “The old has gone, the new has come.”

I remember the day I was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Philadelphia Flyers. I was
in Florida with the Canes to take on the Panthers. The morning of the game I received a call
from our head coach, Paul Maurice. He thanked me for my services and informed me I’d been
traded to Philadelphia. That day Philly was in Buffalo to play the Sabres, so I jumped on a plane
and flew to Buffalo to meet my new teammates. Here is what’s so odd about being traded:
Several of my new teammates and I had fought before! Keith Jones and I fought in Washington
(I want a rematch with him), and Rick Tocchet and I fought several times. Rick was the one that
shattered my cheek. (I DON’T want a rematch with him!) Rod Brind’Amour and I had literally
fought one another the week prior to my being traded! These guys who were formerly my
enemies had suddenly become my brothers. I used to fight with them, now I would fight for
them. We were teammates. As a Christian, you were traded from the Kingdom of Darkness to
the Kingdom of Light. You were traded from Death to Life. You play for a new team. You get
new teammates:

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one
in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:27-28 ESV)

You “put on Christ” like a jersey. You become part of His team. Notice how different each of
these people are: different ethnicities (Jew and Greek), different social classes (slave and free),
different biologies (male and female). And yet, in Christ they are one. Despite all these
differences they are ONE team, Team Jesus. We no longer fight with one another. We fight for
one another. We no longer divide over our differences. Instead, we celebrate them. We are
family. We are the Church.

“For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we
might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

There are certain iconic moments in history that timestamp our lives—things like 9/11, the tragic
death of Kobe Bryant, or the O.J. verdict. These moments seem to be “screenshots” taken by
our consciousness that stay with us forever. We remember where we were and what we were
doing.

March 6, 1999—do you remember where you were and what you were doing? You should. This
was the unforgettable moment in our nation’s history when all-star NHL defenseman Adam Burt
(me) was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Andrei
Kovalenko. There was an exchange—one player in exchange for another player. (By the way,
none of that All-Star stuff was true—but it’s my blog, so get off me!)

Some 2,000 years ago, there was another trade. Theologians call it “The Great Exchange.” One
man, Jesus, was given over in exchange for the sins of the world. God would pour out His wrath
for our sins—past, present, and future—onto Jesus. We, in turn, would be given the perfect
righteousness of Christ in exchange. It is “the Gospel.” The word gospel literally means “good
news.” I believe it’s the best news possible!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone
who believes…” (Romans 1:16)

SALVATION AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN
Do you think a car can have a demon? Theologically, I don’t believe it’s possible. But if it were,
my 2010 Acura MDX definitely had one! I was hit in that car five times. If it wasn’t a demon, it
was some kind of cosmic curse or something. I had been to the local body shop so many times
they knew me by name.

The fourth time I was hit, I was T-boned by a young girl just learning to drive. I felt bad for her,
but c’mon, man! My car limped back to the body shop. I was cordially greeted by the appraiser:
“Welcome back, Mr. Burt,” as if I were returning to my favorite local restaurant or drinking
establishment. After a few weeks, the car was repaired, and I was back on the road again.

I had to pick up a few pastors from LaGuardia Airport and drop them off in Manhattan. I picked
them up in my newly repaired ride and made my way back into the city. Trying to maneuver in
Manhattan can be treacherous—cabs, cars, bikes, and buses are coming at you from all
directions. I arrived safely at the first pastor’s street corner and stopped. He thanked me for the
ride and then proceeded to open the rear door… into oncoming traffic! A cab hit the rear door
and literally wrapped it around to the front of my car!

Have you ever been so angry that you can’t even fake being polite? I was just like, “Bro, get out
of my car and go home!”

I managed to bend the door back into place so I could drive home. The following morning, I
made my way back to the body shop. “Welcome back, Mr. Burt.” Five grand was the estimate to
repair the damage!

Several days later, I met up with the pastor responsible. He apologized again and again and
finally asked, “What can I do to make it right?”

“What can you do to make it right? You can give me five grand!”

“I don’t have five grand,” he replied.

“Well then, I guess there is nothing you can do to make it right.”

You see, somebody has to pay to fix it—and that is the problem with sin. Someone has to pay to
fix it.

JESUS PAYS THE BILL
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

I’ll often hear people ask, “Why can’t God just forgive sin? Why the gruesome brutality of the
Cross?” God does forgive sin, but He can’t just forgive sin. Sin must be paid for, or else God
would be unjust. We want a God of justice sitting on the throne of the universe. An unjust judge
would be untenable.

Imagine the outrage if Larry Nassar, the convicted pedophile who sexually assaulted some 265
young girls, were just randomly set free by a judge who flippantly declared, “I forgive you.” We
would burn that courtroom to the ground. Why? Because it’s unjust.

We love justice—I don’t think it’s even debatable. The last time I checked, there were roughly 70
courtroom TV shows: Divorce Court, The People’s Court, Judge Judy, Judge Wapner, Judge
Brown. Not to mention legal dramas like Law & Order, L.A. Law, Matlock… the list goes on and
on.

We can’t get enough of it—justice. It’s been hardwired into our DNA. I’ll prove it to you even
further. Have you ever been watching a movie where the villain is wicked—I mean really awful?

At the end of the movie, that guy has to die badly, doesn’t he? And if he doesn’t, don’t you feel a
bit unsatisfied? Unfulfilled? That’s your inner sense of justice at work.

But herein lies the problem: when we are sinned against, we want justice. When we sin against
others, you know what we want? Mercy and forgiveness.

What is God to do? He is holy and must do justice, but He is also loving and wants to forgive.
What’s the answer? The Cross of Christ. It’s at the Cross that justice and mercy meet. Jesus
absorbs the righteous wrath of God for us on the cross (justice). He dies so that you and I may
live (forgiveness).

“…but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved
by Him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:8–9)

September 29, 2006—Ramadi, Iraq. SEAL Team 3 was deployed to help train Iraqi soldiers.
Delta Platoon was stationed atop a local building to ward off insurgents and keep an eye out for
any rebel activity. The mood was businesslike and quiet as each SEAL Team member went
about his duties.

The quiet was broken by the sound of a loud cry: “GRENADE!” Without hesitation, SEAL Team
3’s Michael Monsoor jumped on top of the live grenade moments before it detonated. The
deadly blast was absorbed by the brave soldier. He died so that the entire team could be saved.
One of the SEAL Team survivors later said, “Mikey looked death in the face and said, ‘You
cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead.’”

Michael’s remains were returned stateside to be laid to rest. What came next was incredibly
powerful. As the wooden casket made its way to the burial site, SEAL Team members dressed
in full uniform were arrayed on either side. As the casket passed by, each member removed his
gold trident pin and placed it on top. One SEAL after another laid down his prized trident as a
sign of unity—a declaration: “What Michael stands for, we stand for.”

When the coffin arrived at its final resting place, it was completely covered in gold.

Michael absorbed death on behalf of his brothers so that they might live. Jesus did the same for
us. In dying, Jesus absorbed death on our behalf, and in rising from the dead, He declared the
“death of death.”

Don’t misunderstand what Jesus is saying—He’s not saying that we won’t ever die. He’s saying
we are safe in death. Because He rose from the dead, we can be confident that we too will one
day rise. Now death is simply a doorway to resurrection and eternal life.