“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of
God which is given you by Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians. 1:4 KJV)
Amazing Grace is probably one of the most underrated songs of our time.
I was listening to The Almost’s version of this timeless wonder when its true
meaning hit me. Where would we be without the amazing grace
of God? On a highway bound for hell, ultimately as our lives would be so
empty and void of all meaning and purpose.
I recently celebrated Passover for the first time
with my wife. (Passover is the week-long Jewish holiday remembering the Hebrew’s Exodus out of Egypt some
5,000 years ago). Toward the end of a Passover Seder,
all of God’s doings during the Exodus are remembered in an order labeling each
as greater than the one before:
●
If God had simply taken His people out of Egypt,
delivered them from bondage, and not brought judgment upon the Egyptians, it
would have been enough.
- If God
would have brought judgment on the Egyptian gods and not slain the first born, it would have been enough.
- If God
had parted the Red Sea and not made the sea
floor dry to walk on, it would have been enough.
- If God
had made the sea floor dry and not drowned His people’s enemies, it would
have been enough.
- If God
has drowned the Hebrew’s enemies and not met all their needs in the desert
for forty years, it would have been enough.
- If God
had met all their needs and not given them manna to eat, it would have
been enough.
- If God
had given them the Torah (the Books of Moses) and not brought them into the Promised Land of Israel, it would have been
enough!
This continues seemingly endlessly, and concludes with, “If
God had brought us into the land of Israel, and
had not built the Holy Temple for us, it would have been sufficient for us.”
The Exodus, The
Entrance
The Exodus shows God’s relentless mercy and grace
for His people over 5,000 years ago. Even though His people whom He delivered
disobeyed His commandments, mocked His chosen leaders, bowed to graven idols,
and countless other abominations, God still gave them the Promised Land. The love and compassion God has for His
people is never ending and infinite. The Exodus illustrates this amazing grace!
Even with the Temple, our sins could only be pushed ahead year after year,
never eternally forgiven. We were in a never ending cycle, ever-indebted to
sin, but because of God’s Grace, He took on a fleshly form and became a man, to
dwell among us and endure our pain and sorrow. “Greater love has no man
than this!”
It would have been enough if God had given His life for us, and died for us on
the Cross at Calvary, but He did more—He’s doing more every day.
Forgiving time and time again for things we know we ought not do. It’s His will
that none should perish, but that we all should be saved! Because He loves us!
God longs to be in communion with each of our souls every day; He searches for
us.
I Once Was Lost, But Now I am Found
We find our way, we get on track, we do things right, we follow His Word, and
then we fail, we fall, we mess up. Not only does it happen once or twice, but
it seems weekly, even daily, we fault on commitment to our Savior. What happens
then: Just like a father on the sidelines when his son trips in a race, he
shouts, “Get back up! Keep going!” God longs to be in communion with us. He
wants us to be with Him—this is why He made us.
There will come a day, when we will sing praises to Him forever and ever. We
will have eternity to thank Him for . . .
“. . . when we’ve been there ten-thousand years, bright-shining as the sun, we’ve
no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun . . .”
ninetyandnine.com
© 2009, Brandon Hamilton
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Brandon
Hamilton, a 20-year-old life-long Pentecostal, resides in
Newark, Ohio where he attends Christian Apostolic Church, pastored by
Keith Sjostrand. Brandon is happily married to the girl of his dreams, Abi, his
newly-wed wife. Brandon currently attends the Ohio State University with
intentions of one day become a well-reviewed writer.
