The Risk God Took
Mindy Belz, writing in a recent issue of World Magazine (April, 30, 2016), laments the idea that we do not have “statesmen” as politicians anymore. She begins by reflecting on an event from late in World War II. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England at the time, visited his troops in Normandy, four miles behind the front lines.
It was not safe at all for him to do so. German tanks were still pounding the British. The 15th Army was sent to Normandy, with Hitler vowing that the Americans and British would not liberate Europe. The Allies had just been in Normandy a week. It was not all certain at that point that the Allies would win the war. That victory would come a year later. Eating lunch with Churchill on this particular occasion was General Dwight Eisenhower.
Belz criticizes modern politicians for not being involved in the lives of the soldiers on the front lines as Churchill was, as Eisenhower was, even as journalists, as herself, are sometimes. If politicians visit the “front lines,” it is in zones that are heavy in security. Politicians, as Belz writes, simply do not take the risks that politicians did during war time in the 1940s.
Finally, Belz writes of the occasions when President Dwight Eisenhower would recall soldiers who died under his command. He could hardly speak of it without tears filing his eyes. Belz writes: “He [Eisenhower, p.h.] never mentioned that he was there. He didn’t have to.”
That essay reminded me of the risk God took when He became flesh and came to earth. While we can argue that the Father knew the end result, it is also very clear that Jesus could have sinned. If He had, the entire plan of salvation would have come crashing down on mankind’s collective heads.
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So ubiquitous is sin in the lives of humans that, according to Barna Research, 52% of Americans believe that Jesus committed sins like other people! Only 46% believe that Jesus was sinless. The percentage is slightly higher among so-called Millennials (56%).
Yes, Jesus was tempted in all things as we are – Hebrews 4:15 – yet without sin. He could have had an impure thought. He could have said a sinful word. He could have lost His temper at some point. The potential was there, ever present, hanging over His heart. That’s what it means to have been tempted. Thank God Jesus had the spiritual strength and relationship with the Father that kept Him from sinning.
What a tremendous risk the God of heaven took. All because of His love for you and me. Churchill visited the front lines to show his support for his troops. Commanders like Eisenhower did the same. Eisenhower did not have to brag about his role as Supreme Allied Commander. Nor does Jesus have to tell us how much He loves us.
His choice shows it.
–Paul Holland
