There is a standard, whether we want to accept it or not. This is an absolute truth, whether we want to
accept it or not.
Each person has a standard upon which he/she measures
everything. There is a standard by which we determine if a sunset is
pretty. A standard by which we determine
if a meal or cup of coffee is good. A standard by which we determine if a
person is worth making friends with… if an act is acceptable… if someone is
doing a good job. There is a standard we
measure everything by.
Where did our standards come from? What made us choose the
standards we use? The ultimate standard,
of course, is God’s standard. His holiness. We are made in His image, and so I believe, they are instinctually created in us as
we’re being knitted together in our mother’s womb. Everything - from the smallest insignificant
thing to the biggest most life/culture/humanity changing thing - either meets the standard or falls short. Everything. Everyone. No matter how much effort is put forth to make it, either the mark is hit,
or it’s not. Pass or Fail. And God’s standard is one which no human can
ever pass. Ever.
But for GRACE.
Do consequences exist? Yes. They have to. It’s a law
of nature; a law of God. For every
action there is a reaction. Some
consequences are immediate, some take years or decades. Some are unnoticed. Some bring positive change. Still other consequences bring lasting and
even permanent devastation.
But for GRACE.
But we say, what about justice? What about bad people getting punished? First, whether you believe it or not, there
will be a day of reckoning. There will
be a day of judgment – for the living and the dead. Each and every human will face that day. But like many, I want to see the bad guy get
it in the end. I want to see Hitler
burning in hell or pedophiles, mass murders and child abusers. Now, I probably wouldn’t wish “burning for
all eternity” on a family member of friend that betrayed me, or the client who never paid their bill, or the guy who cut me off on the freeway or took the parking
spot I clearly was waiting for - with my blinker on. However, at the least, I might
wish them a bad day. We all want
justice.
In the scope of daily living, if we're honest, don’t
we all deserve justice? Don’t we deserve justice for things we said, things we
did or didn’t do (knowingly or unknowingly)… even for things we’ve thought?
Whose standard determines that justice we feel people
deserve? Who’s to say that when I told a
lie, or made fun of that different kid or disregarded the feelings of a friend…
who’s to say that on some level I didn’t cause “death” or “destruction” in that
person’s life? I certainly did cause harm. (Yes, I understand there is a
difference between a making fun of someone and sadistically mass murdering
people.)
But for GRACE.
Grace does not negate justice. It does not remove consequences. Grace does not condone or accept wrong
behavior. True Grace always comes with
Truth, and truth reveals wrong. Truth sets us
free.
True Grace is not getting what we really deserve. True Grace
is the ability to keep moving forward.
True Grace overcomes. True Grace
is the “hand” that picks us up when we’ve fallen, dusts us off and nudges us
forward on the path of life again. Grace sees the hurt, wipes the tears, holds us tight, brings healing and gives us
strength to move past it. Grace
says – that hurt me, your behavior was wrong but you are important to me and I
love you. There are no strings attached. Grace is a gift given ~ by us and by God.
With that Grace, the Truth allows the consequences to remain,
for justice to be served, the lesson to be learned. Grace and Truth say I saw what you did, you
will feel its results, but now I’m giving you a “do over” – but don’t do it
again. The utter exquisite beauty of God’s Grace and
Truth is that He knows us; He sees into
our hearts and He give us multiple “do overs.”
I’m not sure which is worse… to withhold Grace or
to not accept it when freely given.
We ALL need Grace… we can’t survive without it. Maybe we shouldn’t be so focused on justice.
Maybe we shouldn’t be focused on getting what we think we deserve. Maybe we should not be focused on “what’s in
it for me.”
Grace is the bridge. It breaks down any barrier.
Let’s extend more Grace.
Let’s accept the Grace given.
Our life depends on it.
