Many objections to the particular teachings of the Christian Church begin with the words, "Couldn't God have...?" The answer to such objections is a simple: "Yes!" However, it is one thing to argue that God could have done thus and so; it is an entirely different thing to argue that God did actually do this or that. Couldn't God just have overlooked our sin or repaired our liability to death and corruption with a wink and a nod. Yes. He could have done exactly this without any personal involvement in the solution to our corruption. Our heavenly Father chooses not to. He will not take the easy way or the impersonal way out, even if we think it is superior to the way He actually chose. He is willing to get dirty in a broken world to repair the corruption caused by the Fall. He is willing to take our flesh that in taking it, it might be restored.

Humans, of course, incited the problem of sin and brought corruption on humanity by having a better idea than the original plan God had for them. Didn't Adam say something like, "Wouldn't it be better if we could be gods in our own right? Couldn't God have conferred on us that blessing? Yes, of course He could have and should have." But instead of seeking the Lord's will in that, he chose his own will. With baleful results. Adam sought immortality in his own way, when the Lord had already conferred on Him immortality and a unique personal relationship with Him beside. How did that work out for Adam then? Not so well. For us? Ditto.

But our heavenly Father would not leave us in this corrupt state, nor would he fix it without paying the price. What would a costless salvation be worth to us? As a pastor, I am sometimes asked for advice about all manner of human issues, many of them unrelated to my training and expertise. Sometimes people ask for financial or legal advice. The advice I give them is worth what they pay for it. Nothing. No one should put a great deal of stock in my expertise. God chooses not save us in a way that costs Him nothing. If He saved us with the wink and the nod, then we would question the value or the seriousness of our salvation. We might wonder what the big deal was that we need to be saved at such miniscule expense. What are we being saved from so cheaply? While salvation is free to us (this is what grace is); it is not free to God. Our heavenly Father is serious about saving us and is willing to put His only begotten Son on the line for us. A very real incarnation brings a very real salvation. And we should have no "woulda, coulda, shoulda" doubts about it. Look at what it costs God!