The Ping-Pong Ball Effect ~ Part 2

The Ping-Pong Ball Effect ~ Part 2

Now for the other side of the table… I must admit I like the topic of grace better – wait, I better qualify that statement. I like this topic when I apply it to how I view my life. But as we have been studying this topic, I have been squirming with what God has been revealing in my heart - about my heart.

I was blessed to learn very early in my life that I was a sinner. And because I was a sinner, I could never qualify on my own to stand before God and gain entrance into Heaven. I also learned about the One who was willing to take my place.

So at the tender age of 4, with a simple understanding of what He did for me and my Dad by my side, I knelt before God and asked Jesus to be my Savior. As I grew up, I never doubted the sincerity of my request or that Jesus stepped in that day to become my substitute and make me righteous in God’s sight.

Fast forward to the present. When I talk about my life, I feel like I could sound like the apostle Paul when he gave his credentials to the church of Philippi. I went to a Christian high school, graduated from a Bible college, married and have stayed faithful to my husband, have raised 4 children according to God’s principles, have been highly involved in many different ministries, etc.

So when I read the parable of the prodigal son, I relate to the prodigals’ brother. Or when I read about the landowner who, early in the morning, goes to hire men to work his vineyard, then goes back and hires more at the 3^rd, 6^th, and 11^th hour, I view myself with those who were hired in the first group. And that is why I relate to those had a major fit when they, the ones who worked hard throughout the long day, saw that the last group was paid the same amount they received. My reaction, like theirs, is - that is so not fair!

We discussed this parable at small group a few weeks ago – and I made the comment that I really didn’t like this parable because I just couldn’t get past the injustice of the payment. Someone gently made the comment that maybe we tend to see ourselves in the first group when we should be relating to those in the last group. That stopped me. I mean, dead in my tracks, stopped me and I’ve been thinking about this ever since.

It has been sobering to see how arrogant I have been in assuming my standing before God is like the prodigal’s brother or the first group of workers. In reality, my sin and rebellion against God actually places me as the prodigal or with the last group of workers hired. I am the one who desperately needed Someone to come to my rescue.

And that is where God’s grace comes in - sweet, amazing, undeserved grace. No wonder there are so many songs about it! For once you get just a smidge of understanding what grace is about, you can no longer keep your praise neatly and quietly contained.