After getting words on paper for the most recent essay, "Have we got it right, yet?" and the near dismal consensus uttered in the introduction, "One wonders if we will ever get it right under the Sun." it compels me to express one more thought - namely, I join the millions of believers who are able to say, "Praise the Lord, I am saved by grace!" Yes, admittedly there are doubtless many hundreds of "routes" mankind has tried to open up, dig out, plow open or whatever other kind of effort to have some kind of assurance, approval and contact with the Almighty.

"Favor and blessing" are words used to define "grace". Isn't it coincidental that the little prayer many Christian and Jewish believers (there may be other beliefs unaware to me) offer at the table is called "grace". Certainly no less than three times a day we are confronted with visual beneficent favors and blessings from our Creator God; we would be remiss in not "saying grace" at the table.

Sure, we were the ones who toiled at the job (in the field, in the office, at the plant, in our cars) to be paid monies that made it possible to provide the food on our tables but let's never fail to remember our body, with its awesome mind, its wonderful parts and learned abilities are God's creations. All this becomes a cooperative effort in the biblical principle the Apostle sets forth in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." As God provides abilities and circumstances for our toiling we therefore cooperate with Him in the divine plan.

We even have visual examples of severely handicapped individuals born without hands or feet and are prone to say, "What about them God? How are they to take care of themselves?" Those same people do not even let God have a second to explain or comment. One person, seen by many on TV and on You Tube: Nick Vujicic, of Melbourne, Australia, has overcome what appeared to be impossible obstacles. He is a happy man, not a complainer. He has even become an ordained minister and travels worldwide to testify of his acquired blessings and the abilities he has developed in order to be just about as normal as many despite his physical losses. In fact, many almost feel ashamed of their oft complaints or grumbles when they see him on TV or in personal appearances. He can "kick a ball", swim, walk and nearly run - the only appendage he has like a leg or foot is a small movable part that somehow developed and his mind took over (the matter) and that little part of his body (he calls a "chicken drumstick") became the flipper he uses to move or walk about. When he swims he moves his body in a "snakelike" movement that impels him through the water, perhaps more like a seal swimming (but without flippers)!
http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

Desperation should never be claimed or leaned upon when thinking about our position in the kingdom of God. The Old Testament is explicit with example after example of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humankind, therefore some religions feel compelled to refer to our condition or position as having original sin and therefore doomed because of our "sinful nature". That in itself is a complex subject but that too has explainable concepts when we read the Bible with an open heart and mind. The prophet Isaiah compared our righteousness to filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and the Apostle Paul picks up that thread as he writes Romans 3:9-12; 22-24. -- "ALL have fallen short..." so no one is without guilt or sin but our situation or position is not desperate or without hope because God provides GRACE.

A comment included in the previous essay, "Nothing has ever occurred to God," is a truism that explains God was not destining us to Hell or any other horrible place or abode without making available a "way out" or a "different path". This subject too is plenteous even in the Old Testament, even though most like to think the Old Testament philosophy is a "works related" plan - Grace was greatly manifested long before Christ was born. When Abraham and Sarah tried to hurry along God's promise to give them a son to begin their seeds that were to match the sands of the seashore, they involved a gentile woman and Sarah, like any wife, did not like the competition and demanded Abraham send her away. God showed grace on that gentile woman and her son - and remember, she was not of the chosen race. Hagar said, "You are the God who SEES ME." (Read about this in Genesis 16:7-14) Doesn't that at least hint that God's grace reaches further than most of us think it does? Just who are we to limit anything God chooses to do? Further along in the events of the civilizations around the Israelites, God chose to offer grace to a nation as undeserving as any probably on the face of the earth. The Ninevites were extremely wicked people but God wanted Jonah to preach to them. And for a time, the great city of Nineveh turned their backs on their idolatrous gods and worshiped the God of Israel. We can never outguess God as to whom he chooses to bestow blessings and grace.

The Scripture teaches God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Man (and woman) have always thought themselves to be "in charge", a trait that goes back to the Garden of Eden. Whether we believe in an actual Garden of Eden or the mere principles of "that great day of decision" when Eve chose to obey the Serpent instead of God marks the beginning of something much of Christendom calls the depravity of man, at least the essence of depravity. One five letter word is intentionally left out in this situation I am referring to: "total". To be "totaled" anything is serious. Totally under the water, without air or oxygen is to drown if submerged long enough. Totally naked is just that, not a thread of clothing. Totally blind, no light of day is recorded on the retina of our eyes. But the God of grace does not allow man to be totally depraved, unless man chooses total depravity. We do have a choice in the matter and that is the essential or deciding point of this argument. To those who claim God punishes sin in an everlasting Hell and all the "Hell-fire damnation bit" preached with such positive assurance, there is no contradiction: let there still be a Hell and the degree of its intensity and longevity. Quite simply, if man (or woman) is so determined to refuse or reject God's grace they have chosen their own consequence, not God!.

Some biblical scholars have reduced Hell to the simple lack of the presence of God, and that would be horrible enough in anyone's eyes. That is if we are correct in acknowledging it is God who allows the rain to fall on the good and the bad. That is if we are correct in acknowledging that ALL GOOD THINGS come from God. That is correct in acknowledging that GOD IS LOVE--and an existence without love and goodness is Hell enough for me.

As long as man exists, someone, somewhere will always be coming up with "another" creed or dogma. It matters not how simple or involved dogmas of men are, there will always be the circle that "includes" or "excludes". May the God of grace enable us to be grateful simply to be able to say "THANK YOU God for your inexplicable Word, that became Flesh and dwelt among us and those who believe call Him Savior." God is infinitely capable of sorting out the chaff from the real seeds of worship and beliefs.

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This is a far deeper subject to expect or try to settle in fourteen hundred words--so do not think I can explain it satisfactorily to everyone's approval; but do let God be God--He is completely capable of taking care of choosing or excusing without our help.
THE WORDWRIGHT