Very early in life we develop a concern for 'fairness'. We also learned certain formulas for success, thinking that if we do 'A' plus 'B' plus 'C' that it should equal 'D'. But we also soon learn that life is not fair. Thus the cry of the elder son in the story of the prodigal! He followed the formula: stayed at home, worked for his dad, kept his nose clean, careful in spending. He deserved the fatted calf! But no, the father graciously gave it to the son who broke all the rules, did not follow the formula, and does not deserve to be honored. But that is the nature of 'Grace'. From a human standpoint, grace is not fair! By definition, it is unmerited, undeserved favor. God is known to do the unexpected for the undeserving. To understand Grace's formula, Jesus tells a story of a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard. At the end of the day, those who were hired at the end of the day received the same as those who were hired early in the morning. Jesus was illustrating the formula of grace; 'Many who are first will be last, and the last first.' God's sovereign principle for salvation is that every person who comes in faith to His Son Jesus Christ receives the same gracious salvation prepared by the Father and given by the Son. There are no exceptions or variations. Whether a person comes to Christ as a small child and lives a long life of faithful, obedient service, or whether one comes to Him on his deathbed, ALL come into the kingdom on the same basis and receive the same glorious, eternal blessing! How is that possible? One word: GRACE! |
