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             he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

 

Imagine that you have created the ultimate theme park. As one fictional theme park declared, you “spared no expense.” Like that theme park owner, you didn’t want the park to be just fun; you wanted it to benefit all humanity. You spent billions on the infrastructure and billions just on dressing things up for the opening day. Everything was perfect, then the first visitors walked through the gates, and all hell broke loose. No, it wasn’t dinosaurs having escaped from their pens; it was the guests themselves.

For some, it was too warm, for others, too cool. Some didn’t like the music, food, colors, restroom locations, some of the other guests, or you. The food is free, but they have to sit next to someone who is too ____ or who is obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction that they don’t approve. I’m just as bad. Consider your own household or mind. The reality is that no matter how wonderful a place the theme park owner builds, it won’t please everyone in every way all the time. The shows aren’t spicy enough, too spicy, or they aren’t the star. The harder the owner (or you) works to make it “just right,” the more others will find fault.

God’s answer to this problem is Christ. Jesus is a type of ticket; this ticket not only gets us free rides, free food, and free shows (spiritually speaking), but He also guides, instructs, and cares for each visitor. But we all want to complain about something, if nothing else than that the owner should consider us a little better than children, with a Babysitter assigned to us who doesn’t let us do what we want. It’s unreasonable. It’s, it’s…we want to speak to the owner/manager!

Even if we weren’t selfish, bigoted monsters, this problem would still exist. We might handle it better, but it would still exist. Unless we are denied personhood and individuality, the only way we can be at peace with one another or even ultimately happy is for Jesus to bring us together, for there to be one sufficient sacrifice and one sufficient law.

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