Our 5-year-old son lives by a simple credo: Never, ever be bored! He’s always investigating, always testing, usually grubby, never still—not even in his sleep. Liam doesn’t share his father’s fear of heights or snakes, nor does he possess his mother’s good sense. His favorite phrase typically occurs too late for Mom, Dad, or older siblings to intervene. “Watch this!” he’ll announce as he begins his incautious leap to . . . wherever.
So you might not expect Liam’s tough exterior to contain a gentle core. But it does. When he discovered that a predatory animal had invaded a nest of baby rabbits, he was inconsolable. Bringing a tiny, lifeless bunny to Mom, his body shook as he sobbed, “Baby rabbits shouldn’t die!”
We live each day with relentless reminders that something is wrong—really, really wrong. Baby rabbits shouldn’t die.
According to Christian theology, the reason for death traces back to the garden of Eden. Our first parents sinned, and their rebellion brought a curse that included a death sentence for all creation (see Genesis 3:1-19). But it cost God even more than it cost us.
Throughout the Bible we gain glimpses of God’s plan to redeem His creation. Isaiah 53:1-12 provides one of the keenest insights into what that would look like: “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal” (Isaiah 53:9).
God’s Son shouldn’t have died! “But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants” (Isaiah 53:10).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 21:15-25
More:
What hope and what warning does Romans 8:9-17 give us when we trust in God’s Son? (The warning is in Romans 8:17.) What hope does Romans 8:18-25 bring to all of creation?
Next:
Why do you think God gives us the freedom to rebel against Him? Why doesn’t He make us love and obey Him?
Gary Shultz on October 2, 2014 at 5:29 am
I agree with your son, baby rabbits shouldn’t have to die; however, they do and as you state neither should have Christ. The question is, why? And we say to forgive sin. Why, so we can be saved. Why? And yes, it does tract back to the garden; so we can experience a relationship. All of this so we can share an eternal friendship with God almighty, it’s what He always wanted. Thank you for stirring these thoughts, I rather enjoy them.
Tom Kopper on October 2, 2014 at 7:14 am
Here is another view / insight to death upon this planet:
http://www.reasons.org/articles/animal-death-and-the-atonement
Remember death to man is a spiritual death.
Gene on October 2, 2014 at 7:44 am
Writing in response to the blog helps me focus on the message/application and helps me to remember later in the week. I’m not very consistent in my responses, but the ODJ is part of daily routine these days. We do live in a fallen world, Tim, in need of a redeemer. How awesome to have Jesus as part of God’s big plan as described by Isaiah.
tgustafs on October 2, 2014 at 9:52 am
Gene, I too find that blogging/writing help me focus on scriptural truths. And fatherhood underscores that truth for me as well. My kids notice things that I have grown far too accustomed to seeing.
Tom, thanks for the RTB post. A thought-provoking and appropriate caution about our a priori assumptions!
I think a vital, overriding point is that Jesus in Revelation 21:5 promises to make everything new. I have no idea what that will look like, but I don’t believe it will include death of any kind.