Can We Earn It?

In one of the final scenes of "Saving Private Ryan," a dying captain uttered his last words.  Captain Miller had scoured war-ravaged countryside and many men died in their efforts to find and escort Private Ryan to safety.  As his life ebbed away on the bridge, Miller directed his attention to Ryan and said, "Earn this...earn it."  He exhorted Ryan to live a life worthy of the sacrifice he and others had given to save him.  As the elderly Ryan stood at the tombstone of Captain Miller, he said he remembered those words every day and did the best he could.  But was it enough?  Ryan wasn't so sure.

All those who attempt to earn the gracious sacrifice of others will always fall short.  Captain Miller in his dying moments demanded something of Private Ryan he simply could not give.  How could he possibly "earn" the sacrifice of Miller and valiant soldiers who gave their lives so he could live?  What short of sacrificing his own life could even begin to measure up?  Since many men he didn't know had already died for Ryan, how could he possibly repay them?  And how could the one life Ryan had to offer be enough to pay for all the men who perished on the battlefield for his sake?  It seemed to me the sacrifice of others haunted him because he could never fully rid himself of the weight of perceived debt.

Many people think they can earn God's favour through personal sacrifice.  But no man can earn the gracious sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  What an insult, to think we must earn what God has offered as a free gift of forgiveness and salvation for sinners!  God demonstrated His own love for us, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  We were not noble, worthy kind of man Private Ryan turned out to be.  We were dead in sins, mockers and scoffers, enemies of God Jesus loved enough to seek and save.  It would be impossible for us to earn Christ's sacrifice on Calvary.  But we can receive the gift of salvation through faith, live our lives in light of that divine love, and share His love with others.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can walk worthily of His sacrifice.  We don't need to worry about being denied heaven because we haven't quite earned it.  We are unworthy and Christ died for us anyway.  We were hopeless, lost rebels, yet He has loved us with an everlasting love.  We are unfaithful and foolish, yet He calls us by name to faithfully seek us.  We were all like Steamboat Willy, and Jesus took the bullet for us.

We can't earn loving sacrifice.  When we realise Christ wasn't simply following orders but loved and sought us when we were worthless and gave His life in our place, what joy and peace is ours.  Let us rejoice in what Jesus has done.  Jesus has no tombstone, and we do not need to wonder if He hears us.  He is risen, just as He said!  Not only has He saved those who repent and trust in Him, but He invites us into His presence so He can help us.  Hebrews 4:16 says:  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Instead of, "I hope I have done well enough" we can have the God-glorifying perspective of, "Let me tell you of what Jesus has done for me!"  That is the abundant life worth living!