In the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’ soldiers are sent out to find him and bring him home because his brothers have been killed in the war. It was an act of mercy for his mother’s sake. Several of the soldiers who seek for him are killed – and one whispers his dying words to Private Ryan ‘Earn this’ . The final scene of the film is of an old Private Ryan in the cemetery of the war dead asking himself the question, ‘Did I earn it? Was I worthy?’
But Jesus did not say from his cross as he died for us, ‘Earn this’. He cried out ‘Accomplished’. He did not require us to earn our salvation. His sacrifice was sufficient to save us completely. We need add nothing to it for there is nothing to add. However, surely our response to his cross is that we not only accept his free and full salvation, but also seek to honour God in the way we live our lives – not to ‘earn this’ but because he is worthy to be praised.
Jesus is unique, supreme and his sacrifice for your sins and mine is sufficient. He waits for us to accept him as Saviour and Lord.