Earn It

I watched one of the most powerful movies ever written on Monday and Tuesday called Saving Private Ryan.  I sat there and watched the sacrifice of so many that have come before me and thought about the freedom that I have and in reality how I don’t deserve it because I have done nothing to earn it.

I watched the final scene of the movie where Tom Hanks is sitting on the bridge trying to blow it and keep the Germans from crossing over and taking a huge step towards victory.  He could have taken private Ryan with his 6 out of 8 remaining guys and left but they chose to stay and fight.  In doing so he gave his life for his country and for private Ryan.  His ending statement to private Ryan was, “Earn this, earn it”.  At the end of the movie private Ryan asks his wife if he has led a good life and if he was a good man?  His entire life he felt the need to earn what had been given to him.  He felt the need to pay back the debt that was paid for his freedom.

I sat and thought I am so much like private Ryan.  There was a debt that was paid for me and I spend my life trying to pay it back and earn it.  The truth is there is nothing I can do to earn God’s love or lose God’s love.  There is nothing I can do to earn or payback the debt that has been paid for my life.  So today live as if you are free because if you believe you belong and the debt has been paid for your life and you don’t have to try to earn it or pay it back you simply honor God by loving Him, loving others and serving both to the best of your ability.  That’s it.  We don’t deserve it but that is why it is a Gift.