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If you are old enough, I’m sure you will remember the news that rocked the hockey world on August 9, 1988. Peter Pocklington had traded Wayne Gretzky to the LA Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, 15 million cash and first round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993. I was, of course, and still am an Edmonton Oiler fan and felt the same disappointment and betrayal that most oiler fans experienced.
It probably was the biggest sports deal of the time but most certainly was for hockey!
Since then, we have witnessed bigger deals in the sports world. The top paid professional athlete today is soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo who plays for Portugal and makes an annual salary of 215 million and with endorsements a whopping $275M. THAT’s a big deal!
In the corporate world we see numerous deals in the billions. Elon Musk purchased Twitter recently for 44 billion. Even closer to home we have BHP investing 14 billion in the Jansen Potash Mine project which is deemed to be the biggest potash mine in the world. Then there is Bourgault Industries out of St Brieux just purchased by Linamar Corporation for $640 million. BIG DEALS!
But as we’ve witnessed these and other big deals, they pale in comparison to the biggest deal of all time recorded for us in the Bible. This transaction or agreement, is called a covenant, and was initiated by God Himself to everyone who will receive it. I love how it is described to us by the apostle Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 21. This one sentence verse reads like a news headline, describing the biggest deal and greatest transaction ever! “God made Him, who had no sin to be sin for us that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
God sent His one and only Son to redeem (or purchase us) through His death at Calvary and His resurrection from the grave on the third day.
Through that demonstration of love our sinless Saviour not only pays our sin debt of death on Calvary’s cross but in a miraculous exchange imparts to us His righteousness. Simply put, He takes on our mortal sinfulness and gives us His perfect, sinless, eternal goodness. He makes this opportunity available to all who accept it. We can more than observe this transaction, we can actually choose to participate.
John 3:16 from God’s Word, the Bible states, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. These truths are often referred to as the Gospel which means, ‘good news’. May I even say, ‘THE biggest deal EVER’!
In simplest form, John 3:16 simply states, God loved, God gave, if I believe, I receive. In that same book of the bible, John 1:12 proclaims, “But as many as have received Him to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name”.
We bring nothing to the table. We can’t buy it; we can’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. Romans 5:8 states, “God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. God through His Son Jesus Christ has paid it all. Our part is believing and receiving.
I myself have accepted God’s offer to have my sin forgiven and in exchange I am declared righteous before my Heavenly Father. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to receive His gracious, loving offer. He will change your life and your destiny!
-Harlan Block