Dear Lighthouse,

 

            “You missed a spot.”  That was what Brendan was telling me this morning as I was painting a play-table I’m working on in the garage.  He would stand close by and critically inspect my work.  Rest assured, I didn’t end up missing a spot.

            A thought ran through my mind, though, about God’s grace and His mercy.  You know, He didn’t miss a spot either.  Romans 8:1 declares that “there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.  Pretty bold statements to those of us who have been stained, spoiled, and soiled by the world.  And yet the message is true - if you are in Christ, God has you covered and He has not missed a spot.

            Grace is such a good thing that it cannot be spoken of often enough.  The trouble is, I think many of us still have trouble grasping the concept even though we hear about it and sing about it weekly.  Grace from God covers your sin entirely.  Hebrews talks about the blood of Christ in this way, “since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  Again, the point is that God is good at coverage.  He doesn’t half-save anyone, He saves them fully. 

            So, if you ever have doubt in your relationship with the Father, go back and review: the blood of Christ covers your sin entirely and wipes away the guilt.  Your part of the covenant is to accept the cleansing from the Father and then do your best to remain unstained by the world as you grow up in His household.  (see James 1:27)

            That leads me to my final thought.  If He didn’t miss a spot in covering your sin, then that implies that you are completely covered by His Lordship.  You are under His grace and His authority now.  Therefore, you have the power to overcome the sin in your life.  Do you realize this?  And are you making the effort to do it?

            Paul was afflicted with something we don’t know the details of but suspect it was some sort of eye problem.  He wished for this ‘thorn in the flesh’ to be removed.  But even after diligent prayer, it was not.  God informs him in II Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  This was not a chastisement, but a promise.  God gives the power of victory over the sin in our lives.  With Him you can stand firm and steadfast.  The key is found in our willingness to surrender our doubt, our worry, and our stubbornness and submit to His Lordship and grace.

            Struggling with sin?  Have you prayed about it?

            Struggling with guilt?  Have you read about it?

            Struggling with anxiety?  Have you shared it with Him or other Christians? 

            Again, the point is that God hasn’t missed a spot.  There is nothing in your life, as a Christian, that God cannot help you through.  Nothing He has not anticipated.  Nothing that He cannot forgive.  The only exception would be the unrepentant, stubborn heart that refuses His grace and forgets His Lordship.

            I think Jude 1:24-25 sums it up the best, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”

            Praise God that He hasn’t missed a spot in our lives.