Time for Grace

Grace is word that many in Christian churches hold to be the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. However, this word and its full breath can only be understood if there is cause to desire favor from God. Rather, I like to look at grace in terms of its more secular definition to emphasize its power in the life of a Christian.

In the secular world grace means an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied. A grace period allows for the debtor to understand that after a certain time the debt will need to be payed. The debtor can take two approaches. He can accept this grace as time to earnestly save to pay back the debt or he can squander the favor given to him and need not worry to repay the debt.

Many Christians reading this now are frowning at my description and thinking. "Well Jesus died on the cross, so that we do not have to pay back a debt, so how does this apply to Christianity?" Jesus did die on the cross so that all humanity may not suffer the penalty due to them for their sin in experiencing the wrath of God. Yet, what I firmly believe is that if we are to stand and call ourselves Christians and ask others to believe the same, we have to understand the power of the grace given to us by faith. Just as a grace period is given to person that cannot pay a debt, so is the favor of God with our sin. Often times a grace period is given for a person that is shown favor due to their circumstance. For instance, you can claim disturbance of home and family such as in a divorce or death of a spouse when a bill is due and you are no longer unable to pay. Such is true with God when he looks at our sin. We often think that God is just dismissing our sin with grace. But, rather he sees us as disrupted by our sin. He sees us in need of his compassion and at our wits end when he extends his grace to us. God sees us as unable to pay the debt and thereby offers his arms to fall into in his grace. We must not see grace as the debtor that squanders what he has been given and has no care or worry. Rather, we need to see our compassionate God that has granted us time; time to get to know him in this life; time to fall into his arms and receive the life that only he can grant us. This life with God's grace in it is a chance no just to clap our hands and dance when the cord strikes. But, rather to truly see the forbearance and compassion that God has for us amidst our sin in this life.

Our God does not just look past our sin and grant us grace as an after thought. No. God gives us grace out of an understanding of our circumstance as humans. He sees that we cannot measure up to the standard he set for us. He sees this not as a Father disappointed in our inadequacy but rather as a Father than lovingly wants us to see our potential reached by him. He sent Jesus to die on a cross so that there would be no question of how much he is keenly aware of our situation as sinners gone astray. He gave us a way out in faith Jesus. If we see Jesus' life and death as an opportunity to grow closer to God in this life, we will truly live in grace in the here and now.

It is my prayer that Christian churches would begin to preach this definition of God's grace. Our life here on earth is a chance to accept that God has grace for us. When he looks at you, he sees a creature created to worship him. God's eyes are not the same as the world's eyes. His face turns to you and offers righteousness through faith in Jesus. When we believe that Jesus paid the price for our debt, we can walk through the door of grace in this life and experience time and immunity from our debt of sin. We must choose not to squander our time on this earth with believing half truths about God. We must see God for who he truly is; a God of compassion and love that sent his only Son to die a shameful death, so that we might live this life trusting that our payment has been made in full by the blood of Jesus.