Fun fact about me, I work at a library. One of my duties at work (which also happens to be the best part of any shift) is helping kids get library cards for the first time. It’s a whole process that never gets old and the excitement of families signing up is infectious. One of those steps in that process, requires the parent with them to sign a waiver as a guarantor of the account. Basically they’re saying that they acknowledge that if an item is damaged their child doesn’t have the means to pay for it so they will be held responsible.
It wasn’t until just the other day while reading Jesus described as a guarantor in Hebrews that I realized how true that same situation is of our faith and I was reminded all over again exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross.
We are, all of us, like little kids in the library, so eager to take part in everything and wanting to have it all. And like those little kids, we are unable to get that access ourselves. We are scooching up to the counter and asking for access only to be told that we don’t have the means to be responsible for ourselves. We’re not able to do it on our own. Worse yet, we’re in hot water. We’ve done a lot of damage and now the bill has come due. Someone has to be responsible for us and cover any damage if we’re to ever get our library card.
Of course, Jesus did a heck of a lot more than give us a library card. The access he signs off on is monumental and life changing to say the least. Instead of a few damaged books our very lives were hanging in the balance. Someone had to pay and someone had to pay totally. There was no other way around the mess. Someone had to pay. And someone did. Jesus stepped into our shameful inability to do right for even just a minute and claimed ownership of us. He offered to pay for the damage.
What’s more, he’s not saying he will be responsible if there’s damage. He’s claiming responsibility over the damage already done and the damage we will do. This is a total package that covers every possible outcome, no matter how deep or heartbreaking. It always bears remembering that when Christ hung on that cross and cried out “It is finished!”, he wasn’t saying that for just the present moment. Christ didn’t die for all your signs up until the point you loved him and after that you’re holding the bill. He died for all your sins. The ones in your past. The ones in your present. The ones in your future. All of them.
This is good news, Christian. This is good access. Those of us who have believed for a long time need to remind ourselves of the goodness and magnitude of exactly what Jesus did for us and continues to do for us. Let us remember just how completely we were rescued and delivered. Let us be awed again that someone would love us so much to do something like that. Let us not forget the weight of what Jesus did, is doing, and will do. Step up to the counter and claim your access, Christian. Someone has spoken for you.
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 