Someone Has To Pay

Posted on Jun 2, 2016 in Devotions |

The story about the gorilla, three-year old boy, and Cincinnati Zoo is well known by now.  There’s a lot that’s been said or could be said about the situation, but I’ll add this: while I wish the gorilla could have been spared and not killed, the only thing worse would be a family having a funeral for their son.

I watched the video and saw the resulting news stories.  The zoo’s director, Thane Maynard, said Harambe was strong enough to crush a coconut in one hand. I was amazed how fast he was as he dragged the little boy in the water.  It looked like he pulled him 15-20 feet in less than two seconds.

An interesting point for me is the resulting “someone has to pay” mentality, meaning surely someone can be held responsible for this!  Did the zoo’s director make a bad call?  IMAGINE the outcry if zoo personnel had tried to tranquilize the gorilla and it didn’t work – resulting in the child’s death!  Police are investigating the parents. The USDA is investigating to see if there were any violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Inspectors found the Gorilla World exhibit safe just two months ago. If a criminal act has been committed then someone should be held accountable.

I wish our culture could transfer the “someone has to pay” to the spiritual side of their thinking and reasoning.  If they did, perhaps more people would come to understand that Jesus did the paying (for our sin) on the cross so we would not have to carry either the blame or penalty of sin.

The holiness of God demands justice – yes, someone has to pay.  The good news is God accepted Jesus substitutional death as payment in full!

Our part is to surrender to His authority and plan and become a child of God!

Amazing grace!

 

Blessings!

Pastor Mark