Most of you know the spelling for a certain place or condition. My title is based on that, but in a more positive way. Instead of the familiar “h-e-double hockey sticks”, I’m thinking about one of God’s free gifts, that of will. You might not consider that anything about Holy (Hell) Week contains an aspect of free will. And yes, ministers have been known to call this Holy Hell Week, with all the sermons, services, music, and sanctuary preparations making for a busy week, to say the least.

God’s will always finds a way. Even through the worst of humanity. His Son had all of that horror inflicted upon him. It was God’s will, in fact the only way to completely conquer the power of sin and death. He let the circumstances that were worldly play out – religious and political authorities on a mission, assisted by the betrayal of one of Jesus’ own. Their free will went unchecked. How quickly they forgot everything Jesus has prophesied; they even turned that against him during the week. 

Our free will can certainly get us into heaps of trouble. But no matter how badly we think we have sinned and fallen astray, God always has the perfect will and intention. What mercy He has for us, by giving us the freedom to live lives that can be used for good. By letting us be in charge of everything from the simple and mundane to the very dominion and stewardship of all that He has entrusted to us. His unconditional and perfect love that helps us through the h-e-double-hockey-stick we sometimes encounter, so that we give thanks for the perfect w-i-double-hockey-sticks that takes us from cross to grave to sky.

Pastor Art