Could it be because it tells of something so precious that it's seems too good to be true? How could someone love you and I that much. Sure I want to believe it but it is almost too hard to fathom a true "unending love."
Something about grace seems borderline scandalous. Philip Yancey has written a book What's So Amazing About Grace in which Part III is titled "A Scent of Scandal." Scandal usually carries a negative connotation with it. In fact Webster defines it first as "Libelous, defamatory." The second definition however is the one I love: "shocking." Why? Because grace is shocking!
The world in which we live is so incredibly performance driven it is no wonder that we would have a hard time understanding grace. Love in our world tends to come with strings attached. "Do this for me and I will love you. Don't do this and I won't leave you." Performance love; that is the common love we find in our world. Frankly, I think we are more comfortable with performance love. It makes more logical sense to us. Unconditional love full of grace blows our minds. It seems many of us want a love where we know what we have to do to earn it. However, grace says "I love you no matter what." Grace says "I forgive you." Grace claims that "your sins are remembered no more."
The truth of grace shocks us to our very core. That is part of what makes it amazing. Grace impacts an individual to the very core of who they are! When a person encounters the grace of God they are changed forever! It breaks down barriers we have built. It softens hard hearts! God does not sit on His throne with your life on a scale of good and bad deeds. The same grace He offers me is the same He would offer the world's worst serial killer on death row. Does that sound fair? No, it sounds scandalous!
Jesus' death and resurrection enables God to be perfectly Just and perfectly Loving. It is through Jesus that we are offered this amazing grace. Jesus' death and shedding of blood on the cross 2000 years ago paid the penalty for sin. He was the righteous lamb of God whom the angel prophesied to Mary in the book of Matthew
"...you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins." 1:21
Once we receive Him as our savior by realizing He is the only way to God we are offered that amazing grace. And the best part is it's free!
When I think about all the bad things I've done or decisions I have made in my 27 years on this earth it is hard to believe that I could be completely forgiven. Could I really have a clean slate without having to earn it? You bet! As Yancey states in his book "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less." Not every church you enter will tell you that but it's true. God loves you completely! In fact, you can be wiped clean by a Holy God without having to clean yourself up first. It doesn't seem fair. That is the beauty of it. It's called grace and it's freely offered by the Lord. It's not fair; it's shocking! And it sure seems scandalous!
Hope you have an extra special Christmas!
Nathan
