Buckle Up

An interesting car was once parked in our neighborhood.  There was an unusually large gap between the body panels around the front wheel.  Often, when you see such a gap, it was the result of an accident.  And sometimes, before repairs can be made, a temporary fix might be in place.  Perhaps duct tape or bungee cords or twine is used to keep the panel from further separating or falling off.  But not in this case, holding the panel was a leather belt with the belt buckled up to keep it from falling off, giving new meaning to the phrase “buckle up”.

It points to a unique state we were in.  There is a huge gap between what we are supposed to do and what we actually do. That gap is identified as a problem called sin.  In a way, the Old Testament sacrificial system was the leather belt that provided a temporary fix.  That system provided a measure of cleansing but it had to be done over and over again.  It was not designed to be a permanent repair.

Perhaps to the owner of the car, the belt buckle was a rather vivid reminder that repairs were needed and the sooner the better.  In Romans 5:8, we find that “while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  Being helpless should be a rather vivid reminder that repairs are needed and the sooner the better.

Fortunately for us, a permanent fix was made available:  “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). 

So forget about buckling up, get the permanent fix!