as fast as one’s dying breath before the afterlife. a snap of a finger. a blink of an eye. a fish biting on the line. the launch into light speed. imagine this kind of breakneck change that happened on your behalf, granting you access into a heavenly utopia formed with the fingers of unconditional agape love. a path paved that preceded your existence to prolong your life into eternity.
imagine the free gift of God’s riches- forgiveness, salvation, freedom, joy, peace- placed in front of you, in a moments time, on a silver platter. grace and it’s efficacious instantaneousness to prove a way out of pain, a new life apart from slavery to do what’s wrong, something beyond fathoming. not that it’s attainable or reachable by man’s standards. but as Solomon once said, if we cry out in prayer with supplication the good Lord will stretch out His arm to forgive and act.
“It is finished” are sacred words that should be well studied and pondered not solely because of their origin from the mouth of the Son of God or because they were His final words upon a cross, but also because of their foreshadowing implications for the lives of His servants.
Christ approaches sinners with tenderness as He says, “You don’t have to live like this anymore. You don’t have to sit in your failure and defeat or your shame and condemnation”. Christ shares this encouragement with the saints as well when they succumb to the flesh and do what they ought not to do. it’s in these instances that a fork in the road known as the ‘valley of decision’ appears. an old familiar road you once indulged in. there’s a knocking from the dungeons of hell hoping to poison your mind leading you to revert to the old self. but there is another option; a second chance always awaiting. a marvelous light that lies not as far away as a tunnel’s end. it is close, it is near, reach out a little and God will do the rest. He will outstretch His arm and close the gap.
the instantaneousness of it all is bewildering. one second you’re an alienated enemy and the next, you’re a coheir of a Holy Redeemer with an inheritance that never fades or withers. a rebel without a cause today; a saint who’s been forgiven tomorrow. Christ doesn’t even flinch. repent, believe and ask and it will be done for you. a new heart breathing new life. grace will never put you on a hold or meet you with an operator. prevenient grace (as A.W. Tozer calls it) takes the first step, meets you where you’re at broken and all, and relinquishes every construct of time standing between you and the cross so you can experience it’s efficacy now not later.
the efficacy of instantaneous grace. reconciliation expedited. unflinching forgiveness. perfect love taking tangible form immediately without hesitation. unity follows love like a dog to it’s leash. but take caution for a moments time is enough for one slice to be cut into two. two parts will drift apart like wood planks on the sea. in a matter of nonrefundable time, they’ll be lost in the current.
“It is finished” is a way of life, not some haphazard catchphrase lost in ancient biblical story. it is an all out embracing and believing the totality of atonement and it’s instantaneous outcome. we humans love stalling, being skeptics and evading therapy. we run from the thought of the hard stuff. we flee at the sound of repairing relationships. when You’re the Redeemer of all things, you tend to take a more proactive concerted approach that leaves no strings attached. God has in fact doubled down on high stakes and personal sacrifice on behalf of cowards who have more experience pushing others away rather than inviting them in. humans slam doors fast; God opens them up faster. humans play the blame game fast; God takes the heat in forbearance faster.
when you’re the Perfect Reconciler, there’s no such thing as lingering in the shadows before making things right. godly redemption does not delay. grace delivers salvation as speedily as superman. but it wears no cape and has no kryptonite. as imitators of God’s riches at Christ’s expense, we bear the cross on our chest dispensing grace instantaneously.
r.w
