Grace
I've been reading "The Shack" - as I've mentioned before. So many people have negative views on this book, claiming that it makes a mockery of God - so forth and so on.. but you do have to keep in mind that this is FICTION. It portrays such a beautiful portrait of Grace - a picture I don't think I would have seen before. I want to share with you a portion of this book - that gives one picture of God's grace that relates to me.
I mess up a lot. I am a human that is very pulled by the flesh - I wonder so many times why God allows me to continue. Why He doesn't zap me already! Why does He put up with my fickle heart, with my fickle flesh?! With my failures over and over and over again?! I get sick of myself - why doesn't God get sick of myself too and blast me!
In this book, Mack, the main character, asks "Papa" - the character of God - "Why do you love someone who is such a screw up?" and Papa responds, "Because that is what love does... I don't wonder what you will do or what choices you will make. I already know."
So then I ask - if God knows - and he does - why does He let me keep going?! Well, that's when free will comes in - but listen to what Papa tells Mack:
"lets say that I know it will take you forty-seven situations and events before you will actually hear me - that is, before you hear clearly enough to agree with me and change. So, when you don't hear me the first time, I'm not frustrated or disappointed, I'm thrilled. Only forty-six more times to go. And that first time will be a building block to construct a bridge of healing that one day - you will walk across."
And the story goes on...-
Don't get me wrong, God is just and He does judge us according to our sins. We still face the consequences of sin!! We are accountable for our actions and for our wrong doings... this statement doesn't free us to mess up on purpose - as Children of God we do not live like this intentionally! We don't continue in our sin because we assume God will give us grace and restore us later. Check out Romans 6. Being free in Christ does not mean we continue sinning. We are dead to our sin and alive in Christ! We do not continue to sin so that grace increase! But see the picture of Grace here - God's patience!
Maybe it doesn't do much for you... but it blows me away.
I mess up a lot. I am a human that is very pulled by the flesh - I wonder so many times why God allows me to continue. Why He doesn't zap me already! Why does He put up with my fickle heart, with my fickle flesh?! With my failures over and over and over again?! I get sick of myself - why doesn't God get sick of myself too and blast me!
In this book, Mack, the main character, asks "Papa" - the character of God - "Why do you love someone who is such a screw up?" and Papa responds, "Because that is what love does... I don't wonder what you will do or what choices you will make. I already know."
So then I ask - if God knows - and he does - why does He let me keep going?! Well, that's when free will comes in - but listen to what Papa tells Mack:
"lets say that I know it will take you forty-seven situations and events before you will actually hear me - that is, before you hear clearly enough to agree with me and change. So, when you don't hear me the first time, I'm not frustrated or disappointed, I'm thrilled. Only forty-six more times to go. And that first time will be a building block to construct a bridge of healing that one day - you will walk across."
And the story goes on...-
Don't get me wrong, God is just and He does judge us according to our sins. We still face the consequences of sin!! We are accountable for our actions and for our wrong doings... this statement doesn't free us to mess up on purpose - as Children of God we do not live like this intentionally! We don't continue in our sin because we assume God will give us grace and restore us later. Check out Romans 6. Being free in Christ does not mean we continue sinning. We are dead to our sin and alive in Christ! We do not continue to sin so that grace increase! But see the picture of Grace here - God's patience!
Maybe it doesn't do much for you... but it blows me away.
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