Book Review: He Chose the Nails

In He Chose the Nails, Lucado invites us to "Linger on the hill of Calvary. Rub a finger on the timber and press the nail into your hand. Taste the tinge of cheap wine and feel the scrape of a thorn on your brow. Touch the velvet dirt, moist with the blood of God. Allow the tools of torture to tell their story. Listen as they tell you what God did to win your heart."

 

This book really spoke to my heart. As a believer in Christ, it is easy to take the cross for granted. We are bombarded by the image of the cross in many places, so much so that it is easy for the cross to become just another symbol. But the cross, a symbol of death and suffering and pain, was necessary for birth and growth of light and hope and redemption.

Christ CHOSE the nails. He CHOSE the cross. He CHOSE the pain. At any point in time, He could have taken himself down off of the cross and condemned all of those who were shouting condemnation at Him. But Christ knew that what He was doing was necessary for redemption. It was necessary for the restoration of His creation. It was necessary to restore relationship between Him and His Father and their creation.

One interesting aspect Lucado presented were the other two men being crucified alongside Christ. He states that the two other crosses represent two choices. One man chose repentance and redemption. The other man chose to turn away and choose condemnation. But both men had a choice, just as we all do today.

I loved the reminder that an infinite Christ who had never been bound by time or any other physical parameters, chose to bind Himself up in the confines of flesh and a twenty-four hour day. And why? Because He knew that He must live as we do, experience the confines of time, the discomforts of life on this earth in order to be able to understand our feelings, to know what it is like to live here on this earth. At any time during his 33 years of life, He could have used His power to make His life more comfortable. But He didn't. And the  only difference between Christ's life and ours? He lived a sinless life where it is impossible for us to do the same.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light, easy read as all of Lucado's books are. He has a gift of spinning the Truth into stories that are easy to read, understand, and relate to and this book is no exception.

A very encouraging book. A great reminder of my Savior's unmeasurable love for me and all His creation.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest opinion.*