Redemption

Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan was founded by nationally acclaimed pastor and author, Tim Keller. Since the church’s birth in 1989, it has offered life-giving ministries in the Name of Jesus, and each weekend, thousands of people gather at the church (which meets at multiple sites across the city) to hear the Gospel.

Millions of people around the world have wrestled with this very issue. With everything that hangs in the balance, it’s easy to see why so many take the question so seriously.

Apparently, even Adolf Hitler had come to a conclusion on the matter.

Phil LaBoon, a native of Pittsburgh, wanted to get married so he reserved a reception hall, hired a caterer, and sent out invitations. The one thing the handsome young man didn’t secure was a stable fiancé; she backed out at the last moment.

But that didn’t stop LaBoon from having a life-changing celebration.

What’s up with the claims of household cleaners? One promises to remove 99.99% bacteria. Another one pledges to kill 99.99% of germs. When it comes to most things in life, most people believe that 99.99% is good enough.

But there’s one area of life that isn’t so forgiving. In this case, 99.99% isn’t anywhere near good enough.

Let me ask you a question. If you were in Jesus’ position, contemplating coming to Earth to save people from their sins, and could pick your ancestry, who would you choose? Kings and queens? Military heroes? Famous rabbis?

Well…that’s not exactly how Jesus did it.

The next time you’re in New York City, pay close attention to the sidewalks; due to the art of Joshua Allen Harris, they tend to come alive with moving representations of nature, science fiction, and mythology.

But what makes these artistic masterpieces truly unique is the “materials” he uses to build them.