The Other Side of 'What If'

Did anyone look at the moon tonight? That beautiful, full, 'harvest' moon which marks for all time and eternity the exact time of our Hope. That day Jesus died for me is forever marked in space by that first full moon of spring. Did anyone consider that it was that same moon that gently bathed Jesus' body in is soft glow, or led the way to the tomb. If that moon could talk, what would it tell us of that Night?
But that is contemplation perhaps for another day. This morning, my thoughts led me down a different path......
I am amazed and lost in wonder. Today represents the height of Gods Passion for me. Today God died in my place. Today, God carried my sin. Today God suffered the stripes that bring my healing. Today God bled great drops of blood for my forgiveness. Today God the Son was forsaken for a moment in history, so I would never be forsaken for all of history. Today God stood bravely alone before His accusers so I would never have to stand alone.
I wonder, what if Jesus had never died? What if His blood had never been shed, his back never been stripped, his smooth brow never punctured by so many thorns. What if a spear had never pierced his side, what if nails had never punctured his hands and feet? I believe I know where that would leave me. But if I really saw it, if I really knew, would it make me consider the cross differently? If I really saw the other side of ‘what if’ how would it change the way I live?
Would there still be animal sacrifices for sin, or would the sacrificial system be done away with like so many ancient, sacred traditions? Or would it simply become commonplace? Would time and eternity continue on as in the 400 yrs between Testaments? Would I even know enough to know what I would have missed? Would I be like the little boy who can’t imagine a vacation at sea, for he has played in the gutter all his life. Would I know comfort from sorrow, healing from pain, freedom from guilt? Would I be able to see in brilliant color? Would I hear the song of the birds, the rustle of the leaves? Would anything have meaning? Would there be hope? Joy? Peace?
To see the other side of ‘what if’ simply look around. There are so many who do not believe that Jesus lived, or that He died, much less that He died for them. The other side of ‘what if’ is a reality. There is no lasting comfort, no permanent healing, and always the guilt, no matter how well managed or disguised. The birds sing a mournful song, the rustling leaves go unnoticed. The ocean in all its splendors is nothing more than water. Colors are dulled, whatever hope, joy and peace which exists is all to fleeting and for many, nonexistent. The sad part is many of them don’t know there is another side, or how to get there.
But we can show them the other side of the cross, the other side of their ‘what if’, if you will. Because we see Jesus, in all His battered, bruised and broken glory. And life takes on new meaning. Birds sing, butterflies float, flowers thrive, lives have purpose. Hope, peace and Joy are lasting realities wrapped up in love.
Abba, thank You for the cross so I don’t have to live on the other side of ‘what if’.
Jesus died and rose again that we might have life more abundantly. John 10:10