When a project in the engineering world goes bad, there is a decision that needs to be made in order to correct the failure. That decision is whether or not to scrap the project and start all over, or to attempt to fix the problem on the project already in process. For example, from my own line of work, if I design a cabinet and build it to the specification I made and come across information later that enlightens me to a flaw in my design, I am forced to choose to try to fix the flaw during the manufacturing process, or I have to start all over again. The temptation to start over is often overwhelming. When there seems to be no way to “stretch” the cabinet that is ruined, there, on occasion, is little to no recourse but to do exactly that…start over. On occasion, a solution may be found, but it is often the lesser of two evils. Rarely does a catastrophic mistake or a failure translate into a positive situation (though when they do it is much welcomed.) A good engineer is always an individual who can anticipate eventualities in any given process. They have a seemingly innate ability to “see” a project to completion in their minds.
As I contemplate this, I find myself in awe at a God who chose to redeem man, rather than to “start over” with a new creation (at least not until grace has had its fruition in this and the next epoch.) At the first sign that His creation (man) “failed,” God did not punch a hole in the wall of his heavenly Temple in anger and go back to make a new blueprint. Rather he promised those failures a hope. He promised them redemption through the one who would “bruise” the serpents head. Not only would he redeem man through crushing the serpents head, but he would redeem him through the very act of the serpent piercing His heel. This means that the greatest offence ever committed against the Creator became the very agency by which all the flaws in creation become ultimately corrected. From a novice engineering point of view, this concept is beyond staggering. It is like saying the flaw in my messed up cabinet is going to become the very means by which we (as a business) inherit all the cabinet work in the world and never have to compete again for business, and even that is a pale shadow of grace. Recovering from an engineering flaw in day to day life in the business world is messy and complicated work. So also is redemption. Praise God that he redeems messed up people, instead of writing them off and displaying them as failed exhibits of poor engineering.
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!” -Romans 5:20
