Christ-Centered Life: Our Sacrifice

Years ago I remember going to the theater to watch the movie “I Am Legend.”

When we walked out of the theater I scratched my head and said, “that didn’t make any sense!”

As we walked past the ticket counter toward the door we bumped into a guy I had known for years. He said, “oh man, did you see all the symbolism of Christ and his sacrifice in that movie?”

I felt like a pagan. Which was crazy. Because I was a youth pastor.

Here’s some context. Will Smith is the main character. And one of only a few human characters in the film. Spoiler alert; his character bites the bullet. Or the grenade. Whatever.

Robert Neville is a virologist who is immune to a mutated virus that was intended to be a cure for cancer. As the lone survivor in Manhattan, he spends his days, with his dog by his side, researching a cure for this virus.

The virus either killed or adversely affected humans by turning them into zombie-like mutants that continued to ravage the city.

After multiple attempts with the use of laboratory rats and even capturing one of the zombies he finally finds a cure for the disease; a vial of blood.

Finding two other individuals from the use of radio signals, they come to his aid and actually become the carriers of the vial, and messengers of this successful experiment. One that would actually eradicate this dreadful virus.

After some thoughtful re-consideration, I began to notice the symbolism and similarities in this Hollywood film and the book I had committed my life to read and obey.

(okay, yes I’ve committed my life to more than some book or list of rules…more on that in a moment).

I began to understand that there is a disease running rampant in our world; sin.

What was once meant for good, a plenteous garden, had become plagued by human ingenuity gone wrong; the Fall.

The adverse effects of these humans choosing to do it their own way, tempered by the guise of lust and pride, plagued every generation to follow them.

Many failed attempts of finding their own cure, offering multiple sacrifices, the shedding of blood of countless animals, making contributions and alms to their God, reshaping their behaviors to prove themselves acceptable before a higher power all proved insufficient.

Until one day. Finally. After countless attempts. The cure was found in the blood of One.

His name is Jesus. His blood covers all. Heals all. Forgives all. Gives life to all.

But it didn’t come without a cost!

It would only provide the covering, healing, forgiveness, and life that we all long for at the cost of His very life. This is the ultimate sacrifice!

The story of Jesus is simple but quite profound.

The perfect Son of God left heaven, came to earth, and lived a perfect, humble, servant-like life, teaching the multitudes of the kingdom of God, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the penalty of our sins, and arose again from the grave just as He promised.

Jesus did something we could never do; He paid the price we could never pay for the penalty of our sins. He appeased the wrath of a perfect and holy God. And His sacrifice provides an invaluable gift of grace in the form of His salvation to each one of us who would call on His name.

So what does a Christ-centered life look like? One that embraces the ultimate sacrifice of His life for mine. His blood was sufficient to cure us from this disease of sin. Trading the shackles and shame of sin for the life and freedom of Christ.

The battle won. Victory granted. The foe defeated. Jesus is King.

Not only did He make good on the promise of His sacrifice; He made good on His promise to rise again! The Christ-centered life is the life that worships our risen Savior and King!