Mary Shelley wrote a book called Frankenstein in which a doctor became so obsessed with creating life he robbed graves and stole cadavers and used the parts to create a man. He managed to bring this man to life. Once the deed was done, however, he was so horrified by what he had done he could not even look upon his “creature” as he called him. The book goes on to describe the lengths the “creature” went to in which to gain his creators attention and approval. The creature wanted companionship and love and acceptance and all he received was rejection and scorn.
As I read the book, I could not help but consider the comparisons between God’s “creatures” and Himself. Only in this case it was in reverse. God created us with his own hands and gave us life and the gift of speech and intelligence and yet we deny His very existence. He paints the sky with sunrises and sunsets to get our attention and we say it is only she way the suns rays react with the water droplets in the atmosphere. Or some other scientific explanation. We see the earth’s majesty and say it all began with some cosmic accident or ooze from the ocean. Really? The creature denies the Creator. We were created to love the Creator. We were created to fellowship with Him. Yet in a reverse Shelley story we run from the very one who loves us. Why? Because of the creature’s sin.
Isaac Watts addressed this in his hymn “At the Cross.” There are five to six verses to the song. I have posted five for context. Usually verses three and/or four are omitted when singing. I want to talk about both in the time and space we have.
1 Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
Chorus:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
2 Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree![Chorus]
3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature’s sin.[Chorus]
4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
While Calv’ry’s cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.[Chorus]
5 But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
‘Tis all that I can do.[Chorus]
When Christ was on the cross the sun was “hidden” so to speak. Matthew 27:45 reminds us that, “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.” For three hours the sun hid in darkness shutting in the glories of God. Many scholars believe it was during those three hours that Christ bore the weight of God’s judgment. He felt the full force of our sin. It was in these hours the price was paid for our redemption. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Someone ran and gave him a drink (verse 48). In verse 50, Jesus cries out again with a loud voice and gives up his spirit. The mighty maker died for man the creature he loved. For those whom he gave a free will to choose him or deny him. Who were under so great a weight of sin they could never be free any other way.
The fourth stanza goes on to remark that as we look on the event of the crucifixion we should look away in shame for our sin. Yet the cross stands as a reminder of the great price which was paid there. It is this reminder which brings us to our knees in thankfulness and tears. Jesus paid a debt he did not owe. Paul writes to the Corinthians,
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
He loved you and me that much. He is not a weird Dr. Frankenstein, and you are not created out of leftover body parts. You were created with design and purpose. He loved you and gave himself for you.
Oh, how lovely is the cross of Christ. The instrument of torture has become our symbol of freedom. What can we do in return but give ourselves to him? The Creator is waiting Creature.
Angela
