Mercy Or Grace? - May 15,
2001
I was reading a book the other night when I came
across a line that said God went beyond mercy to grace. I
liked the sound of that, but it made me stop and think. I
have to admit that sometimes I have looked at mercy and
grace as two different names for the same wonderful
attribute of God. But are they the same thing? Not at
all. As I thought about it, several illustrations came to
mind. If you have also been quick to lump mercy and grace
together, maybe this will help you see the
difference.
For sixteen long years you've watched your pride and
joy grow from a tiny bouncing baby into a tall, handsome
teenager. Each year your little one has grown more and
more independent until just a few months ago you
hesitantly handed over any teenager's holy grail ... your
car keys. You can hardly believe it's been a week since
that early morning when a drunk driver crashed into your
car, instantly ending a future full of promise. Now as
you stand in a room that once rang with music you could
barely understand or tolerate, the silence gives no
instruction for the decision you have to make. The first
and most obvious choice is justice. An "eye for an eye" -
that person was foolish to be driving drunk and should
get the most severe punishment the law will allow. In
fact, they deserve death for the life their carelessness
stole away. Choice #2 is mercy. Mercy says, "Yes that
person deserves death, but I choose to forgive them for
what they have done." Wow, that is tough. Our nature is
to get even, no matter what. But if you think mercy asks
a lot, that's nothing compared to grace. If you display
grace, you not only forgive the drunk driver, you get to
know them. You open the doors of your house and heart and
let them in. You give them the place at the dinner table
once filled by your own child. You even let them move
into the now vacant bedroom and invite them to become a
part of your family. You don't just offer them
forgiveness, you offer them love.
That's what God does for us. A righteous God says the
wages of sin are death. Mercy says, "You have sinned but
I forgive you and you may go free." Grace says, "Your
sins are worthy of death and I'll send my own son to die
in your place so you can go free."
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God." (Romans 3:23) When you turn and walk away from
God, it's mercy that holds back God's wrath at your
disobedience. But Grace stands with open arms, ready to
welcome you back home.
