Innocence Lost

In today's world, innocence is often "lost" well before it should be. This can take on many forms. The cat gets let out of the bag about Santa and the Easter Bunny. A child walks in on a movie way above their "rating level". And things far more serious that I will not get in to in this post. All tragic in their own way. You see, I believe that in the world as it was meant to be by God from the beginning, innocence was never meant to be lost. Sin entered the picture and thus began a downward spiral of humanity into the abyss of innocence lost.


I was at a Good Friday service tonight. It has just been in the last couple years that I have chosen to even go to a service on Good Friday. Traditionally I believe that most Christians like to focus on the celebration of Easter and not dwell on the horror that led up to that day.  For me it has become a tradition that I will never choose to miss. 


Tonight one of the songs that was sung had the lyrics, "where were you when sin stole my innocence?" Great song, but it got me thinking. Always dangerous when that happens. In this phrase that I have heard so many times, I suddenly found a new way to look at it. Christ's perspective...


Sin is responsible for stealing the innocence of every person on this planet in some way shape or form. From the little white lie, to the unmentionable. Well sin stole Christ's innocence too, but in His case, it was my sin and not His own responsible for this tragedy.


Christ was the only truly innocent person every to walk this earth and because of my sin,   He lost his innocence. Not innocence in the way of being jaded and warped by the world, but He became guilty for the first time ever. And He did it for me. He took MY sin. Every one that I ever have and ever will commit. He took them all on Himself because He loves me that much. He loves you that much. 


He willingly became guilty of all the sins of humanity. He was separated for the first and only time from God. He was in hell. All for us!


I really can't even fathom that depth of love. When I begin to try to grasp it... well there are just no words.  He loved me despite my sin then and He loves me despite my sin now. 


I hope as you prepare your heart for Easter, you will take some time and really think about the sacrifice that was made for the love of you. 


Romans 5:8 NET
But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.