I recall as an elementary school student the wonderful
festivities surrounding Valentine’s Day. Of course there was the search for the
small cards and envelopes with a variety of catchy phrases that boiled down to
“Will you be my Valentine?” They were always colorful and just the right size
for a small hand and a mother’s wallet to deal with. Next was the hunt for a
shoebox which would be decorated appropriately to serve as a simulated post
office box to receive the cards slipped into the slot on top by the other
students. But what became of all those signs of friendship?
Only a couple of my Valentine cards have been saved. Daddy
would create a sonnet and typically sign it “Your Secret Admirer”. I think I
may have kept a couple of those. In later years he added my girls as recipients
of his love-crafted messages.
In fourth grade near Valentine’s Day, a different car
arrived at our house. Out popped my classmate, Richard Jones, and up the
sidewalk he came bearing a handmade Valentine for me. After we greeted one
another I unwrapped three pages of red, white, and blue construction paper held
together as a booklet by white satin ribbon. On each page was a different take
on his interest in me. I responded as positively as a fourth grader could,
which meant we enjoyed different adventures together, such as hunting for his
lost beagle through the woods, golf course, and literally through the streams.
I think at times we all lose sight of the marvelous
Valentine prepared for us from the depths of time. As time began and creation
unfolded Adam and Eve decided to take action of their own choosing, after being
told not to mess with the tree of good and evil. The arrogance of doing things
our own way has been preeminent in mankind’s heart since then. History records
the blatant selfishness of individuals as well as whole nations. I see it in my
own dealings and perhaps you do as well. The result tends to be evident in
fractured relationships on all levels, including our relationship with God.
While we cannot straighten out centuries of wars caused by
this selfishness, or even reconcile ourselves sometimes with our neighbors,
oddly enough we can experience a restored relationship with our Creator. Recognizing His perfection, that is His
holiness, God will not look favorably on those trapped by selfishness, or sin.
For those of us who have worked hard to be people of integrity and good works
it may be hard to admit our short comings, but the truth is we have them and
they block us from a relationship with God who is holy and perfect. In
demanding justice God set up, according to the Old Testament, with His favorite
people of Israel, a system of sacrifices. A lamb without blemish would be
offered, or other means of trying to pay for the sin. And then God revealed more of His plan.
Around 712 BC, God told Israel He would send THE perfect
sacrifice. Isaiah 53 spells out Who this Savior would be and how He would be
the ultimate sacrifice literally instead of animal sacrifices that were
representations of bearing our sin. Eight hundred years later Jesus Christ is
identified as “… the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”, by a
Jewish John, the Baptizer. As Jesus’ life and death
unfolded it fulfilled at least 38 of the prophecies given to
Israel hundreds of years earlier, as recorded in the Old Testament.
His life ended as foretold, through a horrible means of
crucifixion, but then miraculously enough Jesus resurrected from the dead
proving the Father’s satisfaction with his being the perfect sacrifice for sin.
“God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become
the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). “All this is from God; who
reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation; that God was in Christ, not counting men’s sin against them.” (2 Cor.
5:19). By personally believing Christ was the perfect sacrifice for my sin, my
sin is paid for; God’s demand for justice is satisfied. My relationship with God Almighty becomes
alive and active.
I have come to the conclusion that God, expressing His love
through Christ’s death on the Cross on my behalf is the ultimate Valentine.
Will you be His Valentine?
