Whatever happened to sacrifice?

It’s not often that I find myself in a melancholy mood, but with Easter fast approaching I began to reflect on its significance and relevance within our world today.

The essence of Easter could very well be summed up in two words: sacrifice and reconciliation. Culturally, sacrifice has become a rather innocuous term seldom used within today’s vernacular. Our perception of personal sacrifice most often is mistaken for random concessions.

Our government has told us, “In light of the poor economy, we all must be willing to make personal sacrifices.” Now, wouldn’t it be great if a “government of the people and for the people” would demonstrate their sincerity and lead by example? What... It could happen! And there are, too, pink Easter bunnies.

For most of us, “personal sacrifices” are nothing more than “personal inconveniences.” Like the other morning, because times are so tough I actually ordered a “Short Americano” instead of my standard “Triple-Shot-Half-Caf-Whip-Latte-Grande with Legs.” I’ll tell you what, I was one hurtin’ unit. The only way I made it through the day was from the support I received from everybody after I told them of “my” personal sacrifice.

In my parents’ day, however, sacrifice was not only common but it had real meaning and relevance. They had already experienced the Great Depression and as young teens during World War II, sacrifice was almost always associated with loss of life or loss of limbs. My grandparents were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice by signing the parental consent form that allowed my father (their only child) to serve in the Navy under the legal age. He became a sailor and a radioman on the first ship to drop anchor in Japan as part of what was to be our invasion force. I am extremely proud of my father for his service to this country. He has never bragged about his service or the sacrifices he made; to the contrary, he always downplays his part.

I mentioned also that his parents were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Often we think of “giving one’s life” as the ultimate sacrifice, but as any parent can tell you, it’s not. They would gladly sacrifice their own life before that of their child’s. And, whereas I myself might be willing to sacrifice my life for another, I would NEVER sacrifice the life of my only son for anyone! This is not to say I wouldn’t do for my son as my grandparents did for my father. If the cause were just, greater than oneself and in service of our country, I would. Just as many parents have before me and are presently, in the hope that their sacrifice will bring about peace and reconciliation for our country.

As it pertains to Easter, sacrifice was the essential element that made reconciliation even possible. After God finished creating all things, man enjoyed living in perfect harmony with Him. For a short time at the beginning of humanity, we enjoyed the countless benefits of being in a right standing with God. We had it all, but “it” wasn’t enough. Our actions betrayed our defiant will and we sought to elevate ourselves, or as the Bible says, “to become as God.” The created sought to rule over the Creator. It was our own defiance that destroyed our personal relationship with God and as a consequence, brought forth not only our physical death but also our spiritual death — being eternally separated from God.

God would have been both fair and just if He had left us to die for our own sins. And yet, for reasons that are humanly impossible to understand, God chose to sacrifice His only son for all of humanity. Imagine sacrificing the life of your child, not for something noble like our country, but for the vilest humans imaginable like say, Hitler, Stalin, a child molester or rapist. And yet the perfect life that Jesus Christ lived made Him the only one that could ever pay the debt of our sins. This is why He had to die, so that our debt would be satisfied. But He came back from the dead to prove His omnipotent power, so that all (even the vilest among us) who are sincerely sorry for and turn from the wrongs they’ve done against God and receive His gift of “substitution” might eternally be reconciled to God.

 During World War II, personal sacrifice was needed in hopes that men might be reconciled to each other in peace. At Easter, we are reminded that divine sacrifice was both needed and required so that mankind might be reconciled to God. The question is, are you reconciled to God? I realize this is very personal; however, its profound and eternal significance is worth considering.

Bailey is a resident of Whitefish.