Journey of Redemption

Just yesterday disgraced former Tory cabinet minister John Profumo died at the grand old age of 91. Some will remember that back in 1963 he was forced to resign over an extra marital affair with a 19 year old prostitute called Christine Keller. Following his disappearance from politics he gave the rest of his life to raising moneys for charities and even offering to be a toilet cleaner. Prime minister Tony Blair's comments about him on the BBC news are most enlightening. Rightly he spoke of his serious mistake and then commented that Mr. Profumo gave himself to a "journey of redemption." I presume that Mr. Blair was referring to redeeming himself in the eyes of the public. However I couldn't help think how Mr. Blair's comments summarise the thoughts of many people in a spiritual dimension. Many imagine that their life is to be a journey of redemption - trying to make up for the all the wrong that they have done and somehow get into God's good books.
The message of Biblical Christianity is the complete opposite to this man made religion. Our lives are a journey of damnation, all that we do corrupted by our sin, even our best efforts as "filthy rags." But thanks be to God that there was one who did indeed have a journey of redemption - the Lord Jesus Christ. His journey, the Bible says, began way back before time when God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the great three in one God, planned how in love, mercy and justice a great many sinners could be saved from the guilt and punishment of their sin. In the fullness of time the eternal Son came to earth in the form of a man, yet still God and took the sinner's place - keeping the law perfectly and receiving in his body the punishment that was due to others for a broken law. When He hung on Calvary's cross and cried out, "It is finished," that journey of redemption was complete.
Now there is nothing left for us to do, but by grace, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
What good news the true gospel brings - no journey of redemption to engage in for it has been done. What good news that idolaters, liars, adulterers, blasphemers, thieves, coveters - can as they see their sin and flee to Christ alone in saving faith be in an instant declared right with God and have the sure and certain hope of heaven.