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The Scandal of Extravagant Waste

In the eyes of the world the cross is a huge fail, one disastrous defeat. A flop. Extravagant waste with little upside. A botched operation. A first round knockout. The Waterworld of biblical storylines. Or so some say.

Only the unregenerate drift so far downstream. Only the ignorant wander so far out in left field. Only the disbelieving fall so dramatically. Death, yes. Defeat, no. Vicarious substitutionary atonement. God wasn't working with a blown budget. He didn't have to resort to any Plan B. His immeasurable riches assured eternal gain for all who would believe. Therefore your greatest pain and disappointment has purpose beyond what you can see as God works immeasurable glory out of seeming defeat. 

Cost-cutting measures don't fit into God's sovereign plans. He had all, He spent all, He retained all. Nothing missed His orchestration. Nothing thwarted His plans. Satan's pawns thought they determined Christ's destiny. This plan that contained bleak earthly shadows also had heavenly glory infused throughout. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3). For His praise and glory and our eternal good He accomplished redemption and saved a people for Himself.  

Nothing is lost is God's economy. Every scrap, every tidbit is utilized. He makes beautiful things from dust; He restores what is eaten by rust. There is no such thing as overspending with God. We cannot fathom the depths of His heart.  Pretenders complain "why this waste?" much like Judas grumbled over perfume spent on Jesus (Matt. 26:6-13). Greed won't look mercy in the eye. And all the while worshippers marvel at God's marvelous riches of matchless, generous grace.