In the original Star Trek series, there is an episode called “The City at the Edge of Forever.” In this episode Dr McCoy is accidentally injected with a substance that makes him paranoid leading him to run from the ship to a strange planet. Spock and Kirk lead an away team to find their deranged crew member. While there they discover a strange object that has the ability to open a portal that shows all of time and space. In the midst of investigating this portal, Dr. McCoy jumps through and lands somewhere in time. Suddenly the away team discover something terrible.

As a result of McCoy’s time travel, all of modern history is erased. Suddenly there is no Enterprise, there is no Star Fleet. Suddenly the away team is left stranded on the planet, spared from the cosmic temporal reset.  Spock and Kirk do the only do thing they know to do, go in after their friend and hope they can reset time. Unfortunately, when they jumped in they landed approximately two weeks earlier in time than McCoy.

Out of necessity, Kirk and Spoke take up residence and find work with the help of a young woman who runs a Mission home. Kirk goes on to the most Kirk thing ever, falls in love with a woman and she falls in love with him. As the relationship blooms Spock is eagerly trying to discover what time event McCoy could have disrupted. The truth came as a blow to Kirk. The young woman that Kirk was courting was the key…

In the original time line she died in a terrible car accident, but something happened and she was spared. While this on the surface seems like a good thing, it unfortunately caused a string of events that led to the fall of the world at the end of World War 2. Kirk, must now attempt to act natural and allow a woman he loves, to die. When the event finally happens, it was truly heartbreaking. Jump Kirk had to allow the woman he loved to go so that billions and billions can live.

This leads us to our devotion. This devotion was the final portion of Geekmas 2020. While Christmas is the time that many in the Christian Community celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is important to remember that He was born with a specific purpose. He was born to die as a sacrifice so that every person can be redeemed. Everyone is born with sin. No matter how “good” you may be, the sin nature in us keeps us permanently separated from God. The Bible makes it clear that the only way to God, the only way to have salvation, is through Jesus.  No other path leads to heaven.

Some would ask, “Why would God do that? Why would He allow people to go to hell?” It’s because He is a Just God. A just God must and does punish sin. “But a loving God doesn’t send people to hell.” You may say… But the truth is that a loving and just God actually makes a way so that He in his Justice can punish sin, and you have hope. But to do this, He had to do something painful.

“For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17

This passage makes it very clear. God doesn’t want to condemn the world to Hell. In fact, He has gone above and beyond to make a way so that YOU don’t have to. He has laid out salvation or us through His son. The reality is heartbreaking. He must give up His son to the hands of wicked men so that we can have the opportunity to have hope.

But here comes the biggest difference between episode of Star Trek and the reality of Jesus Christ. While Edith (the woman Kirk falls in love with) had no idea what her death would cause; Jesus knew full well what He was doing. He was fully aware of the terrible torture He would have to go through for all of us. The reality is terribly intense for Him. He experiences true fear; yet in the midst of fear He prays;

“…My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:39

While Jesus is experience true fear, He leans into His father. He understands that this fearful situation will bring hope. He understands that His sacrifice would make salvation available for every person who walks this planet. He willfully goes to the cross for us all.

So, what’s our response? If you have been convicted of your sins. If you desire to be in relationship with the Father and to honor the sacrifice of Jesus, then turn to God. Pray to God that He would forgive you of your sins. Repent is a term that means to ask for forgiveness of your sins, and then actively turn away from those things and do the opposite. This doesn’t mean that you’re going to be a super Christian overnight and no one who is honestly serving the Lord expects that. But it does mean that you are taking active steps to walk away from sinful lifestyles and behaviors. That you’re striving to be like Christ. We recommend you get plugged into a Bible believing church that will walk you through the scriptures. That will disciple you and walk you through the decision you’ve made.