Imagine a canyon. A rift splits the earth in two, forming a gaping ravine.

 

One could call it a chasm—an empty, impassable space separating one side, one world, one soul from another. So illustrates the story of salvation, good news for the ear that will hear.

 

Before the beginning, God was. He created the heavens and the earth, forming man in His image. Human beings thrived in paradise and communion with their Maker. An innocent, whole union.

 

It didn’t take long for them to disobey God’s command. Humanity plunged into sin and shame, death and despair. Trust was broken, relationship violated, everything cursed. A deep, searing divide.

 

Now every baby born into the human population emerges on the side of sin, far from God’s righteousness and goodness.

 

But God’s steadfast love is so unfathomably profound that He had a plan all along to rescue His wayward children. At the scene of the first crime, He promised—an offspring to bruise the enemy’s head and crush him forever (Genesis 3:15).

 

The prophets foretold according to God’s revelation. The people endured according to God’s grace.

 

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to Him you shall listen.” – Deuteronomy 18:15

 

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

 

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2

 

It took countless years and numerous generations for the Promise to arrive … but the Savior appeared at just the right time to fulfill God’s plan.

 

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” – Galatians 2:4-5

 

This wasn’t just any hero come to save, but the Son of God Himself.

 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

 

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – 1:29

 

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” – 1 John 2:2

 

So God’s great love bridged an unbridgeable gap, crossed an uncrossable divide, and restored hopeless sinners to the living hope of eternal life. 1 Timothy 3:16 summarizes,

 

“He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

 

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” – Ephesians 2:13

 

Abby
Authored by Abby Bennett on March 14, 2024.