Whoever thought of “undo” was a pure genius. I use that command nearly every time I’m typing away at the computer. What would we do without it now? Every mistake – big or small – can be taken back. Not many computer blunders are permanent. We can try any crazy thing that comes to mind because if we don’t think it’s quite right, we can always undo it.
How amazing would an undo feature be in real life? What if you could reverse a bad decision in a snap? In a heated discussion, your words went too far and rattled a friendship – no problem! With one click you simply rewind the situation. You completely forgot about the test that now glares at you from your desktop? Don’t worry! Undo that night of TV and crack open the books instead. The worst decision you ever made … what if you could have that moment back and make the better choice?
This is the part where you expect me to say, “Well, with Jesus, you can undo it all!” Sorry … but that would not be the truth. The gospel makes no such promise. We’re never told that our mistakes will be clicked away with ease. There is no going back in time to take the higher path.
The plan of salvation is more loving and more costly than that. Our sins are removed by nothing less than the shed blood of Christ on the cross. Calvary shows the depth of God’s love – an agonizing rescue, not a quick fix. Peter reminds us,
“You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ.” (I Peter 1:18-19, ESV)
Furthermore, God uses the consequences of our actions to teach us how to align ourselves more and more with the character of His Son. To undo our actions – click them into oblivion – would be less loving than the plan He put in place.
Once again, God’s answer is better than a solution I might dream up. As much as I might wish for a spiritual “undo”, God knows the gospel is better news.