Driving across Interstate 26 in South Carolina east of Columbia, we passed a church with a cross out near the highway which had the words Amazing printed vertically and Grace printed horizontally. Amazing Grace is what the cross of Christ brought into the world. There are innumerable churches along interstates, so why this one stood out in particular I really do not know. It did stand out, and perhaps the main reason is the heavy traffic which can so easily try my patience. Perhaps it was also the thoughtless way in which drivers treat other drivers on the road.
It is almost as if Amazing Grace has made no difference in the world. In that moment, my belief and understanding became solidified once again that Amazing Grace is something we must accept. In Revelation 3 Christ says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone shall open it, I will come in unto him and dine with him.” In Matthew 11:28 Christ says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
In both instances, notice the instruction to “come.” In today’s world, there is nothing wrong with Amazing Grace. It is just as real as it ever has been. The difference is that some people have made the decision not to “come.” Yes, it is a choice.
My daughter says she wants to invent a homework machine. She says it will be a machine into which she can input her homework assignments and then it will automatically complete the assignments for her. When I was in college, for my most difficult subjects I sometimes wished I could lay the book on my pillow, and the information would soak into my mind overnight. It may seem humorous, however, these stories highlight the fact that things do not simply happen to us. We are not automatically transformed into the likeness of Christ simply because we pass a church, or even because we attend church. Transformation is a choice that we must make daily. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’”
Grace is amazing, but we can only have Amazing Grace if we choose – daily.
Like this post? Subscribe to stay up to date on new posts.