A Different Set of Rules

​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

One of my chores as a young child on my parent’s dairy farm was to clean out the holding pen each morning. This hour-long chore began at 6 am and required the use of a snow shovel and a hose to clean up the mess left by 100 cows that had just been milked. But my fondest memories include the occasional arrival of a red Chevy truck driven by my grandpa during that 6am hour. As he walked in my direction, he would always take pity on my snot-nosed exhausted appearance. Taking the adult-sized shovel from me, he would give me a hug and send me back to the house where warmth and breakfast awaited me.

There seems to be a separate set of rules when grandparents are around. Certain privileges perhaps reserved for special occasions often become commonplace when grandparents are in charge. I can't wait to become a grandparent! Our relationship with God is very similar. He has a different set of rules. For those who surrender their lives to Jesus, the shame, guilt, and eternal consequences of sin this world requires have been completely removed. Those rules do not apply to believers. Our salvation comes through the blood shed on the cross by Jesus Christ. We have been bought at a price!

Ambassadors living in foreign countries also get to live by another set of rules as they don't have to pay taxes and generally are immune from legal prosecution. As Christians, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God makes His appeal to others through us (2 Corinthians 5:20). Just like foreign ambassadors, we are immune to payment for our sin and eternal judgment. We are citizens of a Kingdom that is not of this world.  The temporary ruler of this world (Satan) would like to charge us with the guilt of our sins. But Christ’s death on the cross lifts this heavy burden off of our backs so that we experience true freedom. This freedom is not so that we can do anything we want to do, but rather so we can be all that God wants us to be.  

Throughout my life, there have been many people who have stepped in and temporarily shared one of my burdens. When my grandpa would step in and do my chores for me, my response was always one of gratitude and obedience. God daily shares our burdens through His Son, Jesus Christ. Gratitude and obedience are also natural and necessary responses. And as ambassadors for His Kingdom, may we share the benefits of the Heavenly Kingdom with others. 
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School