Have I got a deal for you.
Give me your gold, and I will give you
some iron.
Any takers? I thought not. Still, history records a
moment when people did exactly that.
The time was the 19th
century and the Prussian ruler, Frederick William III, was at war. It
was a war that was difficult to sustain since his treasury was empty,
and there were no resources available to replenish the empty coffers.
After careful thought the monarch decided to approach the women of
his country and ask them to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be
melted down, so it could be made into money. Frederick also resolved
that for each gold or silver ornament given, he would present the donor
with a bronze or iron decoration, as a token of his gratitude. Each
decoration would bear the inscription, "I gave gold for iron, 1813."
The response was overwhelming. It is a matter of history that it
became unfashionable for women to wear any other ornament other than a
cross of iron. That instance being noted, I can't think of any other
time when people have traded their valuable gold for worthless iron.
Of course, history notes a trade that was even more unbelievable.
That trade took place when God showed His love for us in sending His
perfect Son into this world to take our place under the Law, resist all
temptation, and die the death our transgressions had earned. As I said,
it was an unbelievable thing for God to do.
In sending Jesus to
become one of us, the Lord traded the Innocent for the guilty; the
Perfect for the flawed; the Free for the condemned; the Son for the
out-of-favor servant. It was something you and I would never consider
doing. Even so, while we were yet sinners, that is what God did.
One would think humanity would be most appreciative for this
unprecedented act of charity. One might think it, but one would be
wrong.
Rather than applauding and accepting God's Son, humankind
hated Him, tried Him, beat Him, whipped Him, mocked Him, and murdered
Him.
For God's Son -- a Gift more precious than gold -- humankind
offered a cross of wood. Still, in spite of our mistreatment of His
generous Gift, God used Jesus' life, death and resurrection to rescue
and redeem us. Now, because of what Jesus has done, all who have Holy
Spirit-given faith in Him are saved.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You
traded Your Son for sinners. I give thanks You did what I would never
think of doing. Now, may I show my appreciation for Your gracious
generosity. In Jesus' Name I ask for this living faith. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
