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.
Like the experience within a cave, when you see salvation, you move toward it with all earnesty. Has a great load been taken from off your shoulders? Have you felt released from all iniquity, where before realizing how wretched you were and feeling there was no hope?
Sister Violet, when she was baptized, the moment she came out of the water, she told me she felt relieved. She could not understand why she had not done that years before. A great burden had been lifted. A great feeling of peace and joy filled her heart.
It is this grace which brought these feelings. Amazing Grace vs. 2.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
When we say those words, do you think back to the day you were baptized for the remission of your sin? What a glorious thought to feel the fear of God well up within your soul and cause you to respond to His invitation. After you responded, did you realize those fears of doom were relieved? God had placed His grace upon you, not looking at your imperfections, but accepting you in your state of being at that time. Like the children of Israel, upon your diligence to obey all God commanded, His grace began to cover the little imperfections.
While this life goes on, we will face many dangers, toils and snares like we have already endured. But now they can seem so insignificant; they will not interrupt our life as before. The grace of God will lead us on. Amazing Grace vs. 3.
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
Through the promises Jesus told us about, we hold dearly to His hope. It is through His Word–through the son of God, God’s Word-that we obtain and grasp firmly to hope. Prov. 30:5. 5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. When we grasp firmly to the hope given to us, this shield of grace will guide us from iniquity. All our imperfections will be overlooked. Amazing Gerace vs. 4.
The Lord has promised good to me: His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
Until death, if we have entered into the grace of our Lord and Savior, we will forever enjoy a life of peace, joy and hope. Life brings many trials but never more than we can bear. 1 Cor. 10:13. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
It is by grace God will relieve us from many burdens. It is by the guidance of His Holy Spirit that will lead us home, to heaven.
When our lives are over, we will be carried away into an immortal body on that great judgment morning and will glide into a world of joy and peace forever. Amazing Grace vs. 5.
And when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil a life of joy and peace.
This new life will last for ever-and-ever. It will be by grace that we are saved, not by works, but a gift of God. We will live eternally inside an immortal body. What that body shall be like, no one knows. 1 Cor. 15:51-53. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
For as long as we live in eternity, it will seem like unto a day. And after that day, even if for thousands of years, it will still seem as if it had just begun. Amazing Grace vs. 6.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.
As we continue our walk in Christ Jesus until our lives are over, let us strive to walk worthy of this grace offered unto us. Just as Apostle Paul besought Ephesus, let us also.
Eph. 4:1-7. 4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Our measure of His Grace is in accordance to His will for each of us individually. Realize it may not be exactly the same for each one, but we shall be together in heaven.
Shall I attempt to take advantage of His grace? Romans 5:21-6:2. 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Grace reigns through righteousness. We cannot live sinfully and expect to receive grace. His grace is to those who diligently endeavor to do the Will of God.
Are you striving to do the will of God? Are you seeking what His perfect will is and obeying His commandments as best you can? If so, you can then expect His grace to save you.
