Soul Snack 8/99 ... Cheap Grace
Picture in your mind's eye a people unable to be numbered with dust stained sandals, wizened skin from a relentless middle eastern sun and unable to settle. For 40 years they had traversed a barren and harsh wilderness in this extended lesson to trust the one and only God.
How incalculably attractive should the promised land have been. All of God's goodness received when secure in Canaan. His people were to enjoy an abundance of life. This abundance He had intended for them and their children in perpetuity.
Life in God's land under God's rule is always to be excellent. No good thing does He withhold from those who love Him. (See Ps 84:11)
God's care was to deliver Canaan to His own, but they were blind.
God's words (from Himself and His prophets) they were foolishly careless towards.
God frequently called for obedience, they steadfastly resisted.
These recalcitrant stiff - necked people had no understanding of when life was good. Dis-satisfaction and complaint was the order of their day. They were blind to His blessings and ungrateful to His grace. At best their faith was cheap.
Cheap faith lives out lethargy towards His leading.
Cheap faith looks into His light and only sees darkness.
Cheap faith conforms to the prevailing mood of those around and 'crucifies Christ' all over again.
BUT when I crucify Christ yet again, He lovingly and patiently resists crucifying me.