Every human being has an innate need to search for the beautiful and attractive things in life. We’ll never find them by looking at what the world offers us. Our external environment is filled with ugly things like punishment and condemnation designed to manipulate our behavior. By contrast, God offers us mercy and forgiveness when we miss the mark; this beauty is found only through His grace.
God’s ways of operating are completely different than man’s ways. This was illustrated during Jesus’ ministry when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. Instead of condemning her for her sins as the law required, Jesus instead showed her grace and compassion. Taking into account all of our flaws and imperfections, this new-covenant way in which God now deals with man is much more attractive than old-covenant law.
In these last days, the world is deteriorating; if we received what we deserve, we’d be subject to judgment and condemnation for our wrongdoings. We need rescuing, but we can’t save ourselves. Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our own efforts to pull us out of a tailspin. God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn it, but that through Him, we might be saved.
One method God uses to draw people’s hearts away from worldly things is by setting before us the stability and attractiveness of heavenly things. We’re to set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Another method is by declaring the imminent passing of physical and natural things. The things that are seen are temporary, but the things that aren’t seen are eternal.
The absence of condemnation enables us to overcome what once overcame us. We must never underestimate the power of grace. Instead of settling for what we see around us, focusing on Jesus reveals that the best is yet to come.
Prayer:
Lord, You sent Your Son to show us grace, which far outweighs earthly things. When our environment judges us harshly for our mistakes, You offer us mercy and forgiveness. We thank You for that. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
John 8:3-11
John 3:17
Colossians 3:2
2 Corinthians 4:18, NKJV