A PREVIEW TO THIS SUNDAY MORNING'S MESSAGE:
At a religious conference, theologians and scholars were in a spirited debate about what is unique regarding Christianity. Someone suggested that what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation - the idea that God took human form in Jesus. Another suggestion was offered about resurrection. The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty.
Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room wearing his tweed jacket with his pipe clinched between his teeth and his arm full of papers. He was a little early for his presentation so he sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke up asking,. “what’s all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. trying to explain themselves. They said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.” The room fell silent and Lewis continued on to say that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love is extended to us freely. He doesn’t love us because of what we do or how good we are. He doesn’t love us because we deserve to be loved. He loves us because of who He is.
Of all the gifts God gives us there is none greater than the gift of God's grace. The Bible reveals that God longs to forgive us of sin. He is willing to completely forget all of the mistakes in our past and is eager to give us a fresh start in life coupled with hope for the future.
In my opinion Lou Holtz is one of the greatest football coaches of all time. I was a freshman at Harding University (then Harding College) in 1977 when Holtz became head coach of the Razorbacks. He later went on to coach a National Championship team at Notre Dame. Several years ago Lou Holtz became the head football coach at the University of South Carolina. He inherited a team that had won only a single game the previous year. During his first year they were even worse—they didn’t win a single game.
The next year as the season began Holtz did something unusual. He passed out paper to the players and coaches, told them to write down all that they didn’t like about themselves and about one another. He told them to write down any failures, weaknesses and grudges that they harbored. After doing that he led the team outside where he had dug a hole in the ground. He then had everyone throw their papers in the hole and then take turns with the shovel burying them. The were gone for good - never to be brought up again.
When we receive God’s grace in our lives that’s exactly what He does with our sins and failures. He buries them. He forgets them fully and completely. He never digs them up. He never retrieves the file. They are gone! Deleted! Forever! The Psalmist put it like this in Psalm 103:11-12— “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
God wants you to know precious friend that He is willing to forgive and forget the sins of your life. However you have messed things up He is willing to give you another opportunity. Whatever you’ve said or done or thought He’s eager to wipe it away and forgive it completely, totally and eternally.
That's the Way I See It.
