Passion and Perspective

Two major events have changed my perspective on life within the past two weeks. First, my friend's daughter suddenly went from healthy and vibrant 7 year old to laying in a coma in need of a liver transplant. For a week it was touch and go. She nearly died 3 times. She received the liver of a 4 year old boy and over the next week made what everyone calls a miraculous recovery. She will leave the hospital tomorrow one day shy of 3 weeks since the ordeal began. My friend wanted to explain the transplant to her daughter, so she gently told her that another child had to die so that she could live. My friend asked her daughter if that reminded her of anything. That 7 year old girl said, "Jesus."
Which brings me to the second event. Cody and I watched "The Passion of the Christ" last night for the first time. We wanted to watch it on Good Friday in order to more fully appreciate Easter- the resurrection- this year. What struck me most was God's/Jesus' love for us. Not only was Jesus willing to die such a tortuous death, he was willing to become separated from God. This is difficult to comprehend. Since before the beginning of time- Jesus had been in the perfect, holy, beautiful presence of almighty God. Yet, he took on the burden of the entire world's sin and was cast away from God and judged by him as unholy, blemished, condemned, an enemy of God. For some time- I don't know how long- Jesus was apart from God and suffered spiritual death, punishment, condemnation, the absence of goodness and holiness, complete darkness and destruction. All this he suffered so that I, and whoever believes in him, will never have to know what that feels like. And he didn't do this for us because we pleaded for it, or because of our deep love and appreciation for him. No, he did this while we spat in his face and ridiculed him.
What is our life? A thin mist that quickly vanishes. What is important in life? To embody the love of Jesus- to BE Jesus to everyone around us. All material things will disappear, but the souls of humanity last eternally. I don't want anyone to suffer the penalty of sin that Jesus already paid for us. Help me, God, to draw others to you through love.