Amazing Grace

When I was dating, and I'm sure for you as with me, my significant other thought I was perfect. Is that the way it was for you? Notice my wife shaking her head. The truth, she did; but she will no longer admit it.

I knew she was not perfect. I told her so on many occasions. It was something about her eyes; they did not look as striking as models I saw in pictures.

Isn’t that how we compare our significant other; comparing to photographs of the most beautiful, perfect models available?

Somehow, as we get to know each other better, we change our ways and overlook the flaws.

What happened? We, as humans, look upon each other and forgive the flaws that don’t mean a thing for our relationship. As we strive to please our significant other, we overcome many obstacles and flaws and begin to accept the new person.

Someone might say, “Grace was given for the imperfections.”

In religious terms, God has given grace for our imperfections and failures to please Him perfectly.

How do you feel about that? You know your imperfections. My wife knows mine and will gladly tell you about them, if you ask. More importantly, God knows them, also. In fact, it is because of man’s imperfections we have separated ourselves from God. God came to a realization, man cannot work out salvation by the Laws of Moses, given unto the children of Israel. Man could not become perfect. Man could not earn salvation; it was impossible. Something had to be done or God would lose every generation of mankind unto Satan.

In this case, God gave grace–unmerited favor; a gift–to replace the imperfections man had between he and his God. In other words, God overlooked or forgave the flaws within man. Just as we, in our relationships, overlook the flaws or imperfections in our significant other.

Grace did not exist for Israel. John 1:17. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, brought grace with him and freely gave it by shedding His precious innocent blood for redemption and grace. Through this grace man becomes perfect; without blemish before God. God only accepts perfection. Man cannot live up to perfection. Therefore, God had to make a way for man to appear before Him without blemish.

God had to make a way for man to be found perfect in the eyes of God; even though we could never be perfect. God determined this in days of old. Ez. 11:19-20. 19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

This is where God made a way and called it ‘Grace’. Through Jesus, the son of God, he devised a plan to redeem mankind of the flaws and blemishes that stood between man and his God. we read in Eph. 2:8-9. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Here we see man could not save himself; a gift had to be offered. Also, it is through faith in the salvation of the son of God by which we are saved. It is a gift.

A gift cannot be returned. A gift cannot be purchased from another. A gift is just that, a free present unto the receiver.

However, this gift carries so much. It can erase all sinfulness; it also erases the guilt of sinfulness. It is a gift of unmerited favor from a sovereign God who can judge and determine to whom he shall reward this gift.

When man realizes his condition–how wretched he is–how lost and separated from the love of God he becomes, he comes to the conclusion he is lost, blind and possibly forgotten.

A hymn we hold dear tells of this condition man finds himself so often. Amazing Grace.we know most of the words.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound-that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found-was blind, but now I see.

How do you feel about yourself? Do you feel wretched, lost from God’s favor? How do you feel about the offer of grace from God? God no longer hates you or dislikes you because of your imperfections. You were once lost and blind; but now saved and you can now begin to see your salvation.

I enjoy passing through caves. I have not done so for many years, but being inside a cave, deep inside, if there was no light nor guide, you seek to find a small speck of light to move toward. Before this, you might feel totally lost and cannot find a way out. When the tiniest speck of light appears, you find relief and know you can be saved from the depths of the earth.