A Smudged Slate
The group Commissioned recorded one of my favorite gospel songs in my teens, called “Running Back to You.” You can take a listen here: “Running Back to You” (1984)
I grew up in church all my life, but this song was different from all the others I heard in church. The lyrics pulled at my heartstrings in a way that I never experienced before. It was a transparent view of a person’s struggle between their flesh’s desires and God calling them to repentance. Much of what I heard before talked about the grace of God that is available to every believer, but this song seemed to be specially written for me. It shaped my journey with God at a pivotal time in my formative years. As I grew in God, I slipped from time to time – but I ran back to Him. When I realized I had a call of ministry on my life, I purposely ran away (don’t judge me)! Not only did I not want the weight, but I didn’t want the attacks either!! But – you guessed it – I ran back to God. I believe that the Amazing Grace that we sing about is STILL available, and it is REAL!
Some of my missteps became known to others. Imagine my disappointment when some of my fellow church members, other believers, and ‘friends’ treated me as if grace was only amazing for THEIR transgressions – not mine! As I pulled away and began to really observe, I discovered that I was not the only one this applied to. I’m about to drop a bombshell…hold on to your eyeballs: BELIEVERS DO NOT ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB SHOWING GRACE TO EACH OTHER! Oh…you KNEW that already? Well, why didn’t somebody tell me?
Many persons accepted Christ AFTER they might have done some dreadful things in their life. Quiet as it is kept – some do dreadful things AFTER they accept Christ! And I am a full witness that repentance is vital in giving Christ your entire heart. As a matter of fact, the ONLY way to have new life is through biblical regeneration – that means that to be spiritually alive is that God does it. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) says it like this: “But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).” But if God bestows grace upon the sinner to bring about salvation, why do believers hold people’ hostage’ to their past that Christ forgave? 2 Corinthians 5:17 (BBE) goes on to say, “So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new.” In other words, a new convert gets a clean slate in God’s eyes. But when we look, there is always tends to be a smudge…
Many of us forget that we are an ‘ex-something.’ Don’t get mad at me for calling you out – Romans 3:23 (BBE) said it before I did: “For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God;” We also forget that God tells the believer that once a person confesses their sins, God forgives them of their sins (1 John 1:9) and separates us from our sins (Psalms 103:12). So who are we to keep reminding someone of their past if God isn’t? I don’t know about you but I’m grateful that God holds our destiny in His hands…because people are not as ‘grace-full’ as they believe that they are and would cause us to feel as if we are undeserving! If I’m really honest (and you know that I will be here), I do not always offer as much grace as I should either. I want to…but sometimes I forget that everyone deserves the SAME GRACE I received – no matter what they did around me…and to me.
Let’s be clear – in no way am I condoning that we all just become doormats and let anyone and everyone walk over us! But what I AM saying is that you and I have done a LOT MORE WRONG towards God than another person has done towards us…and He STILL sent His son to die for you and me! So…it seems like believers should want to pay it forward to everyone we meet…you think?
The finished work of Christ on the cross covers EVERYONE’S sin. How can you encourage someone today that – while you may know what they did – you know that is NOT who they are?
Until next time…