Calvary For Clunkers!

Let me pause this week from my series on having a Kingdom attitude to that of a subject that has gotten my attention these past few weeks. We have seen a certain government program get to be very popular to the American people, so much so that it has run out of money long before it was intended to. As we know, this program is known as "Cash for Clunkers." The government has invited Americans to trade in their old gas-guzzling car for a brand new, efficient running machine. Those who trade in their old car will then get a $4500 rebate toward the purchase of a new car; and boy have the old clunkers been turned in to the trash heap for the promise of something new.

As I thought about this program, I could not help but think that God Himself had a program already in place that was very similar to our government. In fact, the plan by God, offered to all mankind, gives us far more than any government program can offer, i.e. salvation from our sins and eternal life in heaven. Now I know some might think that the word "clunkers" is not a very nice word to describe man, but I would disagree. The apostle Paul could have very well used this word when saying, "Oh wretched (clunker of a man) man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Rom. 7:24) Or the prophet Isaiah could have meant "clunker" when he declared in Isaiah 6:5 - "Woe is me, for I am ruined (a clunker)...!" Man is not naturally good, we are all born into sin, broken down clunkers. We run very shakily at best, and we are all truly guilty of being polluted by sin and polluting this word with our sinful actions and desires our whole life (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23).

Yet the good news is this - God is offering us His best deal - "Calvary for Clunkers." God stepped out of heaven to this earth, and took on the form of man. Jesus lived a sinless life and willing went to the cross of Calvary to die for our sins; to take our place in death. Is. 53:12 states that He died for our sins on the cross. He was buried, and three days later rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15). He now offers this gift to all mankind - "Calvary for Clunkers." He has promised that when we turn in our old self, He will forgive us our debt and will make us a brand new creature in Christ. No longer do we walk in the path of sin (pollution), but we are to walk in newness of life in righteousness (Rom. 8). Isn't this a great program? Yet make sure you take advantage of this heavenly offering, because there is coming a day in each of our life that it will be too late to trade in your "clunker for Calvary."