Our Mess Embraced

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

My husband and I have an 8 week old baby named River. One of his newest habits is easily spitting up after eating. One day last week, I fed River, played with him for a while and then laid him down in his swing for a nap. Almost as soon as I set him down, he puked all over himself and started crying. My immediate reaction was to reach down, swoop him up and bring him to my chest. I didn't even think about the fact I was pulling this puke-covered baby close and that I would also be covered in puke. Why? Because from the day he was born I was instantly filled with love for him, whether he was covered in puke or poop. You might say it's in my "nature" as a mom to love him.

This scenario got me thinking about God's love. We have spit up and are covered in our own puke. In other words, we've sinned and are covered in the consequences of our sin. But, while we are still covered in our mess, God embraces us. That is the simple Gospel. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, God sent His Son. God did not send His Son when we were clean of the puke. He did not send His Son when we got our act together. God meets us in our mess and cleans up our mess by the blood of Christ because just as River can't clean up himself, neither can we. Why does God clean up our mess? Because just as one might say it's a mother's nature to love their child, love actually is God's nature! He is the only one capable of perfect love. God is love, and He desires a relationship with you. Don't worry about cleaning up your mess to come to Him, put your trust in Jesus's death and resurrection and allow God to clean up your mess.