Good Morning:
Thunk. You inwardly groan as you realize that sound means you backed up too far and too fast and collided with another parked car. What’s worse is that as you’re getting out to inspect the damage, the owner of the vehicle comes walking up and his face looks like a thundercloud. With ever worsening degection you notice the other car is a Lamborghini and is leaking fluid from the engine compartment. You begin wondering if your insurance will even cover the cost of repairing their car. When the owner gets closer he begins tallying up all the damage, telling you how much it will cost to repair, and lamenting the time he’ll lose the car to the repair shop. Then suddenly the door to the Lamborghini opens and the owner’s wife gets out. She beams a smile at you and at her husband and says “Dear, there’s certainly no way that this person could afford to pay for the reapirs on our custom Lamborghini. Instead, let’s cover the cost and let’s pay for the repairs on this person’s vehicle as well. In shock you see the husband become ameniable to this suggestion and you drive away with a blank check and instructions to have your car completely repaired at their expense.
The above situation is likely never going to happen to you in a parking lot, but in a way this exchange has already happened between you and Lord. You wrecked God’s priceless and perfect law. What’s worse, is that though sometimes you did it on accident, there were many times that you did it on purpose. However every time you crashed God’s holy law, He, with a thundercloud of warning and compassionate face of mercy, looked upon you and declared that He would pay for all the damage you have caused. The Psalmist puts it this way “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared… 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.” (Psalm 130:3-4, 7).
Believers look at the grace of God in awe and wonder. That God the Father, who is holy, perfect, and righteous in every way, would be willing to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ, for their sake stretches the limits of credibility. Yet it is most assuredly true! God the Father does want all people to be saved and so has worked our the salvation of mankind by Jesus’ willing death on the cross. How marvelous! How incredible! How full of grace for lost mankind! When believers dwell upon the grace of God for them, they are humbled, astounded, and incredibly grateful for all that God has done for them.
In Christ, Pastor Naumann
