In Empire Strikes Back, Lando had the misfortune of deciding what to do when the Empire and Han arrive on Bespin. As the Administrator of Cloud City, he made a deal with Darth Vader to spare the lives of his friends in exchange for Luke.
After Han is tortured by Vader, Lando learns that Han is to be given over to Boba Fett and that Leia and Chewie are never to leave the city.
After complaining to Lord Vader, Lando accepts the deal and when Vader leaves, Lando mutters “This deal is getting worse all the time.”
We all have made deals or agreements that have not turned out how we hoped or they were changed without our full approval.
The good news is that God has made us a perfect deal, one that He will never change. That deal is the Gospel message which is summed up beautifully in John 3:16-18.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Paul also makes the case on the book of Romans. If we read the following verses in the order presented, we will see our need for salvation and God’s perfect “deal.”
Romans 3:10, “as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;”
Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God “
Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned “
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 5:8-9, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”
Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
The question we need to ask ourselves and others is, what is our role in this “deal” God has offered?
The answer is, we only need to accept it and put our faith and trust in Jesus, the only Son of God. He will take care of everything else since we are unable to satisfy the requirement of being perfect.
What a great deal! Will you accept it today?
Love this! What a great way to frame God’s perfect “deal”. And no one will mutter like Lando; “this deal is getting worse all the time.”
I have a magnet at my desk that has John 3:16 on the shelf, right at my eye level,
to remind me each day of what is most important in this world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Keep writing, my friend. I feel sure God will bless your efforts in His name!
Great insight!
The deals are quite the opposite, as God’s deal with us is getting better all the time. Or more accurately, as we continue to walk with the Lord, our understanding of salvation deepens and we find that God’s gift is more encompassing that we first thought.
I understand where you are coming from Andrew but the deal we have with God is set and will not change. Once we enter into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is nothing that will separate us from it. God will not love us more or less based on anything other than what Christ has already done. As you said, our understanding and appreciation for it will grow as we walk each day with the Lord.