Through the window of grace

Martha Olawale

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12

I found myself caught up in a web, spurned by all the distractions and noise in the world. Like many Christians, I built a cocoon and nestle in it instead of standing on the steps of grace to invite others to follow the path that has given my life meaning and hope. Over time, it has become easier to have a haughty attitude toward my salvation, forgetting I was saved by grace and grace alone.

While I agree our world needs Jesus today, the fact is, the world has always been at odds with God’s definition of living righteous, yet Christ chose to die for mankind. Through His journey, He encountered an adulterer (John 8:1-15), a demon-possessed (Mark 5:1-20), and His feet were soaked with the tears and wiped by the hair of a prostitute (Luke 7:36-39). Christ was surrounded by broken people, yet He extended grace to all. At all turns, He accepted everyone willing to embrace His forgiveness, even while hanging on the cross.

We are saved by grace and when we look at the world through the window of grace, it pulls us out of our comfort zones as believers and leads us to those whom our proud hearts condemn but our Savior calls to salvation. It makes Heaven closer, compelling us to leave the door to the grace we enjoy, open to others. And it makes people who seem too far gone from God closer to forgiveness.

God’s grace is constant and sufficient for all our shortcomings. He is not overwhelmed by anything and there is nothing man can do to displace the abundant love of Christ. Not the uproar; the uncertainty that plagues our world; the wickedness of man against man; or the immorality that besieges our mortal hearts. The love of God stretches beyond our limitations and extends beyond the galaxies. He never gives up chasing after us because He knew what we were before He chose to step into hell to save our souls.