Futile

No return possible. No second chances. Yet victory brought no relaxation, only heightened alertness. The enemy and a third of heaven's armies had been cast down to the newly-created planet Earth. Its innocent caretakers, made in their Creator's image, had no idea about the dangerous adversary now targeting their paradise. The plan, developed before the world was made, needed to be carried out perfectly.

Jesus' crucifixion often dominates our understanding of this rescue plan—His terrible suffering and sacrifice for humanity. But His deep love for Earth's inhabitants reaches back to long, long before even the beginning of creation. The Ruler of the universe would willingly give up His power, become human like His own creation, and endure rejection, torture and death—all to recover what was taken by the deceiver. This was the plan, and Christ determined to complete it regardless of the terrible price. Those thirty-three years living on Earth, experiencing human struggles and joys, has permanently changed the course of history and transformed the futures of billions of people throughout time.

How quickly we forget this bigger story while stuck in traffic, dealing with broken phones, rushing through back-to-school shopping, or just handling the stress of everyday life. 

Stop. 

Take a deep breath... pause. Think about today's problems and this week's worries. Now compare them to eternity. Notice how your perspective changes. See how small our temporary troubles become? Everything truly is forever fleeting. Our efforts to fix our problems and fend for ourselves are actually futile when compared to schema of infinity and divine power. The things that really matter remain outside human control—safely in the hands of a God who sacrificed everything to demonstrate His amazing grace and limitless love.

— YorkAli Walters