The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy. Martin Luther
You’re driving down the road. You are exceeding the speed limit. In your rearview mirror you see a police car. You can’t slow down now, he’s too close! You see the reds lights start flashing… your heart is pounding, you ready yourself for the worst…The Law…a ticket…points on your license…escalated insurance premiuims. Well you got caught and the wrath of the Law is going to visit you shortly. In seconds, a shorter time than it took me to type the words, you have run through the worst case scenario in your mind. The consequences of breaking the law. You have been pulled before, you know the drill. You will be respectful and MAYBE you will get off with a warning. You dare not HOPE! Do you think the trooper will let me off? He’s getting closer! He passes you? What? I knew he was after me I was guilty. I was going 15 miles over the speed limit. Wreckless driving and he just drove by! Wow and you weren’t even going to HOPE!
Have you ever found yourself in circumstances like these? Have you broken the law, known you were guilty and hoped you would get off without punishment? We all have and do every day. From the time we were children breaking our parents laws and all the way to adulthood and the laws of the land.
As the quote at the beginning illustrates, the Law brings fear into our lives as we KNOW we are unable to obey the law, but Grace, God’s free gift provides us the ultimate Hope. A hope that we can live without fear, a hope that brings us peace, and joy. An eternal and abiding Hope. The Hope we have in Jesus Christ.
As you begin this first week of Advent may you be mindful of the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. Hope purchased at the price of His life as he paid the price for all our broken laws (SIN). Be prayerful that this week as we near the celebration of the First Coming, that we prepare ourselves for the Second Coming.
If you have children, may I suggest that you talk with them about the commandments that God gave and how He knew we could not obey and thus he sent His son Jesus. Share with them the Hope they have in the knowledge that as children of God they share in this hope.
