Max Lucado asks us in When Christ Comes: “Can you imagine a world without sin? Have you done anything lately because of sin? At the very least, if you are normal (what is that?), you’ve complained. You’ve worried. You’ve grumbled. You’ve hoarded when you should have shared. You’ve turned away when you should have helped… Because of sin, you’ve snapped at the ones you love and argued with the ones you cherish. You have felt ashamed, guilty, and bitter. Sin has sired a thousand heartaches and broken a million promises. Your addiction can be traced back to sin. Your mistrust can be traced back to sin. Bigotry, robbery, adultery—all because of sin. But in heaven all this will end. Can you imagine a world without sin? If so, you can imagine heaven.”
Lucado challenges us to look within: have we done anything lately because of sin??? If you could hear the excuses that I (or any pastor) hear weekly, you would realize how absurd the question is…of course we have! But where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (Romans 5:20). No, I cannot imagine a world without sin. Not here in Sesser or any other community I have lived, however, I can imagine a world with grace; a world with forgiveness and mercy. Make no mistake about it, this world is not heaven, but grace will get us thru all of our trials here and move us into God’s presence with confidence.
The whole time I was reading your blog I was thinking of the song "I Can Only Imagine". I agree, we can't imagine what it will be like in heaven without sin and to be forever in His presence. And am I correct, that then there will be no need for grace? Thanks be to God that He showers us with His grace here!!!
ReplyDeleteYour correct...there is no need for grace in heaven...but like a world without sin, I cannot imagine God without grace!
ReplyDelete