I don't understand how a lot of things work. Especially grace. I work at McDonald's and when someone comes in and orders food there is always a second part to the transaction, they have to pay. Everything we have learned growing up tells us that we have to give something to get something. Grace is quite the opposite. In fact, it is contrary to everything we have ever heard. Grace is given with no strings attached. That is what makes accepting it so hard. We fall and keep ourselves down because we feel there is nothing to pick us back up. It is a feeling of giving Grace back, but God doesn't give and take grace like it was a game of catch.
I heard an analogy once about grace being an elevator. once you are on the elevator and you have pushed the up button, then the elevator is going up. It doesn't matter if you fall down in the elevator. It is still going up. That is what is so amazing about grace. you cant get rid of it. It is hard to comprehend .
I have tried to liken it to my life. I, and i think most of us, spend our lives putting callouses on our hearts and God has spent his time removing those callouses when we ask. Jeff Foxworthy was telling a joke one night, he said, "I don't understand how jello works. once jello is jello it can't go back to a liquid." He said a lady came up to him after and said, "It will go back to a liquid if you put it in the microwave." "How do you acquire this knowledge?" A bunch of ladies sitting around at a jello party. " "If you think this is good cold, Wait until you put it in the Microwave."
This is a funny but true example of the power of Grace. You can never do something that God cannot undo. Bebo Norman sings a song about God being the God of second chances. I think that's a little off. Not only is He the God of second chances, but third, and fourth. In fact, I have ruined God's perfect plan for my life hundreds, maybe even thousands of times and He still has a perfect plan for my life.
This brings me to how God reveals Grace. I find it interesting that God has the gift of grace extended to us at all times. All we have to do is reach for it, but sometimes we don't see it when it is right in front of our faces. God will use whatever means necessary to cleanse us and show us that we are his original masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 says that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."
I was working at Nosoca Pines Ranch in the summer of 2004. I had a cabin of junior campers all precocious and ready for trouble. One in particular stood out. His name was Chris. He was a bigger camper, taller than most of the other campers. Throughout the week he had gotten excited about the activities and had become extremely involved with the other kids, but he hadn't mentioned much about the programs or an interest in Christ. He loved football and would always want to talk to me about the Carolina Panthers. In fact the topic of most his conversation were about football. His wardrobe was an ode to the Panther organization and players. He would quote stats with a friend of his while at the lunch table. I caught on to these conversations and decided to have a little fun. We had pitchers of water in the center of the table and I decided to see if this kid could drink the entire pitcher of water without stopping. I bet him a brand new football if he could. He instantly accepted and before I could say go he had half of the pitcher down. I was amazed. He drank and drank. I could see him start to become uncomfortable with the massive amount of water expanding his already full stomach, but he was not going to give up. He drank and drank until the very last drop of water entered his. It entered his almost as quickly as it exited. He began to vomit uncontrollably as he ran across the cafeteria with me in short pursuit. He ran into the bathroom and made a quick mess on the floor and one of the stalls. By the time he reached a toilet, the contents of his stomach had finished their violent exodus. He lay there proud and tired in the filth and grim that used to be his lunch and asked, "do I get the football?"
I shoved the fear of losing my job aside and said, "of course you do man."
On my day off I traveled to town and promptly forgot about the football in the haze of the day. I returned and remembered the promise I had made. I went to Chris and told him, "man, I forgot your football in town. I am so sorry." I felt awful and filled with guilt. I told him I would buy him any item in the camp store that he desired. I had forgotten about the horse saddles we had for sale with a lofty price tag of $300-$500. I took him to the store and prayed he didn't buy one. I began to talk to the girl working the counter while he browsed. After a while he returned to the counter and placed his item for purchase in front of the clerk. My eyes instantly welled up. Chris had searched the store high and low and decided that the only item he really wanted more than any toy or saddle, was a Bible. An expensive Bible to boot but I could care less about the price tag. I was so filled with joy that it didn't matter.
I don't know if I made an impression on Chris or if it was one of the programs or another counselor. All I know is that Chris had made a decision at camp. He had accepted Grace.
God will use whatever situation He can to change someone. He will use whoever He can to make a difference, even a stupid camp counselor with no thought beyond his own amusement.
