Undoubtedly by now you've heard a fair amount of news and commentary surrounding the case of Bowe Bergdahl. Sgt. Bergdahl was the U. S. Army soldier held captive and then released in exchange for five Taliban prisoners being held at Guantanamo. Much has been said about the equity, or lack thereof, of such a trade not just numerically, but in terms of probable threat levels each present to the other side once they are free, etc.

Some recent reports have highlighted suspicion that Sgt. Bergdahl may have deserted his unit, gone AWOL, defected, or even aided the enemy. He's been labeled as everything from simply a scared young man to a traitor. I don't intend to comment on those charges as it is obvious there are hours and hours of investigation warranted and still to come in this case.

However, what was curious to me was the charge that if Bergdahl was indeed a deserter or even an enemy of the United States, why in the world would we go looking for him? It's reported that many hours, and possibly as many as six lives were expended in the search to find and free Sgt.Bergdahl. Some that I heard interviewed found this repugnant.He slid under the wire, left his post. Why does he deserve any kind of rescue or redemption?

It made me think, however, about the cost to God in his search to free and find you and me. It poses quite the question in my mind:

To what degree should effort be exerted to recover someone lost if even due to his or her own disobedience?

What might have happened if God had asked that question prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus, his own and only Son? What if God had determined that as deserters, as enemies of God (See James 4:4), we were not worth the cost of his Son's life to save? Where would be now had God embodied the attitude I've heard portrayed in some media?

Instead, we read this in Paul's letter to the Romans:

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 ESV

By not zeroing in on the actions of Sgt.Bergdahl, but instead focusing upon the acts of a righteous God, I'm certainly thankful that the extent to which God went to restore me was not contingent upon my level of deserving such action! While I was yet a sinner, (and continue to be) Jesus gave up his life in order to restore me to fellowship with God. Was it worth it? Was I worth it? He thought so. I think he still does!