Grace Not Guilt

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,… Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

Adam and Eve broke the world in Genesis 3. Maybe you can relate to breaking something, maybe a bone, or a fragile item… Maybe in a sense, you too feel you have broken your world with choices you’ve made. 

We’ve all worn the shoes of the guilty party (Romans 3:23). It doesn’t matter if you think your sin seems small in comparison to someone else’s. 2 Corinthians 10:12 makes it clear the comparison game is about the most foolish thing one can participate in. Aside from that, EVERY sin cost Jesus the same price: death on a cross. In light of that Truth we are all humbled and in need of every ounce of His amazing grace! We have no room to point any fingers; not even at Adam and Eve.

What astounds me about Genesis 3 is God’s immediate response to Adam and Eve’s sin (see Genesis 3:14-19). After Adam and Eve get through playing the blame game and God can get a word in edgewise, His first communication reveals wild grace! Adam and Eve break His creation, forsake His Word, attempt to rule in their own way, believe the serpent over Him setting into motion massive devastation beyond their imaginations… AND YET, God’s first expression is, grace not guilt, redemption not rejection!!! 

God tells them there is a solution and it will be His Son Jesus who will give His life, overcoming evil through His death and resurrection! God then goes on to address the consequences of their sin but it was served up on a plate of grace not guilt. They may have broken the world but they would not end in brokenness; neither would any of us who would entrust their lives to His Son Jesus, as Savior.

Dear one, do not let what you have broken keep you from the blessing He longs to lavish on you. Judas betrayed Jesus and consumed with guilt took his own life – a life God died for with a desire to save and redeem! Peter denied Jesus and consumed with guilt took hold of the grace that redeemed, restored and refreshed his God given purpose with new life!!! It’s not ever about what we deserve, we ALL deserve hell at its hottest! It’s about humbling ourselves to receive what we don’t deserve and could never earn in order to glorify the One who gave His all, to save us all! 

God allowed His Son to be lifted up on a cross that all who would recognize their guilt could LOOK UP to Jesus and receive grace dear one. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32 (NIV) Don’t let the enemy take ground God Almighty has already won for you!! See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” Isaiah 12:2 (NLT)