Showcase Of Grace

One of the most popular songs sung at funerals and other church services is “Amazing Grace.” But can we really grasp how amazing it is?

Tony Evans shared a story of a shopping trip with his wife. They stopped at a jewelry store and asked to see a particularly large and attractive diamond. They asked to have a closer look so the jeweler took it from the case. Evans tells the story this way. “Before showing it, however, he took out a black velvet cloth and placed the diamond in the center. Something amazing happened when the stone was placed against the backdrop of the dark cloth. Its brilliance was enhanced to an almost blinding degree.”

So it is with God’s grace. Let’s read Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Everyone has sinned. All have fallen short. You, me, Tony Evans, Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Steven Furtick; all of us have that backdrop of darkness called sin. And when God places his grace upon that darkness, it becomes magnificently brilliant. His grace is magnified by our sins. That is why the Bible says “---as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” (Romans 5:20) The darker the sin the more brilliant the grace.

However, there is a purpose to God presenting his grace like a diamond on a black cloth. One purpose is to showcase us. Ephesians 2:7 “So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”

I was not fortunate enough to have godly grandparents to be shining examples of a faith filled life. In fact, my grandparents had all died before I was born. That lack of godly examples is probably a reason that I never excepted Jesus until I was thirty. But I am striving to be that example for my grandchildren. And as I hear tales from my children about the faith of their children, I believe I am succeeding. Along with that is the hope that my grandchildren will talk about their Mimi and Pappy, and the faith exhibited to them so future generations are touched.

That is one purpose of grace. Too often we associate grace with a “get out of jail free card.” Grace was never intended to be misused but rather to be brilliantly magnified.

Also, grace is a gift freely given. And it’s not based on merit.

Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

If Tony Evans bought that diamond for his wife, he could not take credit for the beauty of it. Evans had nothing to do with its size or brilliance. He did not form the diamond. God did. It was God who placed all the elements in motion necessary for the diamond to be made. God’s grace is freely poured out on all people who believe. We can’t earn it or buy it.

Also if Evans bought the diamond for his wife it meant more to her than if she had bought it for herself. Most gifts I receive are items I could have bought. But it is special when it is given to me as a gift. There is the process of someone taking time to buy it, paying for it, and presenting it to me. So it is with God’s grace. Jesus took the time to walk on the earth as a man. He paid for it with his blood. He presented to me when I became a believer. But this was a gift so expensive I could have never purchased it. I can only receive it as a gift.