dying dads part 1

Dad's dad died in the ocean in 1958. My dad had not reached his first birthday.
Grandpa Ron perished and he never saw his young wife or two kids again.
I spent very little of my youth pondering the impact of young Ron's death and his absence from his family. Ron is gone and I have been very accustomed to it. I do not and my dad never will know anything different.
Dad never had a dad.
For much of my life this was a very unemotional concept for me. I was born without a paternal Grandpa and I rarely questioned the layers and layers of consequences of this fact. This sounds insane, but I did not consider other outcomes and what it would have meant for our family if Grandpa Ron had landed his plane on the aircraft carrier successfully that night in 1958.
Likewise, I regularly do not consider what it would have meant for mankind if God had not dwelled on earth in a man named Jesus. I have spent very little of my life pondering the scenario, "what if Jesus-God had not come to earth to die for mankind?"
When I was born in 1983, Jesus had already died for my sins and I have been very accustomed to it. I do not know anything different.
Jesus lived perfectly, claimed deity and he died violently.
God dwelt in a perfect man and he died for those who believe. Often today, this is still a very unemotional concept for me. I was born with direct access to God through the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection though I rarely question the layers and layers of consequences of this fact. And what about how much God gave up to dwell in a man? God took the form of an embryo, a fetus and then a crying, helpless baby.
2 Corinthians 8:9 says, He became poor so we by his poverty might be rich. Christ took on poverty that we might inherit the kingdom of heaven.
This is insane.
Consider how it would change the story had Jesus not come and what it would have meant for you and for mankind if God decided he would not send to earth his son to be crucified. The consequence would be far greater than half the world not celebrating Christmas this week. The depth of our hypothetical despair is unfathomable.
As a young father myself I have begun processing these consequences from my new perspective. I will expand on this new perspective next time.

Dad's dad died in the ocean in 1958. That means a lot to my family.
God's son died on the cross to save me from my wickedness and enabled God to restore relationship with his fallen creation. This means a lot to humanity. Belief in Jesus' deity, his death and his resurrection changes everything for the believer.
It didn't have to be that way. But it is. And it is good news. It is the gospel.

A friend stated last week the Lord has many lovers of his crown but few lovers of his cross.
The everlasting Father has a crown we ought bow to and a cross we ought carry.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Amen