As we start a New Year, it is a perfect time to talk about something new. Well, ‘new’ maybe a stretch as the subject matter itself is as old as old can be, or so we believe, yet the proposition included here, at least to my knowledge, may be newish. So here it goes.

Mark stole a large sum of money from James, and that led to James almost losing his house. They went to the courts and Judge Vivian was presented with their case. This was Mark’s 1^st offense. Each Mark and James had the opportunity to speak;

James went first, and he asked Judge Vivian to make an example of Mark, and the only way to show that Mark’s action is unacceptable, is to condemn him with a harsh sentence.

When it was close to Mark’s turn, he knew he had to come up with and excuse. He needed to come up with some plausible defense to at least minimize his sentence. As Mark pushed on the arm of the chair to stand up, his mind was running through what happened the night he stole the money from Mark.  He knew he was in the wrong and should not have done it. As he reached his upright position, his mouth opened and these words came out almost as if someone else was saying them, “Your honor, I stole the money. Although you have the right to sentence me to the highest degree, I am at the court’s mercy and may your grace be evident in your sentence.”

Due to some restrictions, Judge Vivian can either give the highest sentence to Mark or pardon him………. What do you think Judge Vivian should do?

No doubt we can have a hearty debate regardless of which sentence you think she should give. The one thing we can all agree on is that Judge Vivian does not require anything material or none material to pass either sentence. In other words, she decides, period.

This example contrasts Condemnation and Grace, for indeed they are opposites. History has drawn God as a judge that will deliver either Condemnation or Grace, but Grace has a price. Whatever your faith, there is a price associated with Grace. Furthermore, history justifies this logic with words such as; God requires a ‘PRICE’ as God is virtuous, impartial, fair, just, righteous, …… etc.

I only have this question to history…………….

Isn’t this underlined description above more fitting to a legalistic human reasoning? A reasoning that humanity has used over and over against each other!? Or more fitting to an EVER LOVING EVER FORGIVING AND EVER GIVING GOD!? As Paul exclaimed, does this mean that we go ballistic and do whatever is wrong? Or admire and love this God that forgives unconditionally?

Our love to God comes in the form of; His creation, you and me, acknowledging His presence, not with just our brains but with our hearts, and ever glorify him. The more I know He is with me, really with me, the more and more I will act and interact with His Love towards myself and others.

Condemnation & Grace are stark opposites, somehow we need to come together and realize that one is not a substitution for the other, rather it is a simple choice; one or the other.

These are not words out of nothing, but for this writer the Bible shows me this is God and not the one history painted for me.

When and if this grows and grows, unity will grow as there will be MINIMAL if any reason for division. Till next week 🙂