Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(Luke 23:32-34)
I was reading from some of Pastor Charles Stanley's writings today as I was pondering concerns about my alma mater, my son's attendance there, and how present public opinion could change my recruitment strategies. He made it clear as did Christ: The thief dying with Jesus was completely forgiven. Yet moments later, the man died an excruciating death. His sins had been erased in God's sight, but he suffered the punishment for his crime.
Recently, Pastor David Nasser of Liberty stated that, "what is needed now is neither extravagant grace nor rigid judgment, but rather the balance of grace and truth that Jesus exemplifies".
You see, Christ indeed forgives the repentant sinner, yet the physical consequences remain. The more damage done by the act, the more severe the consequences will be, yet His grace will abound even more spiritually!
Yes, my school has been damaged by the acts of a few, yet the founding principals remain intact! However, God still makes beauty from ashes! We move on and continue to build Champions for CHRIST!
It is the same with us as individuals. Our sin can complicate things and even run us off the track at times. We may need to regroup, rethink and yes, repair. Despite the obvious consequences, there is grace, forgiveness and hope in Christ! Let's keep our eyes fixed upon Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith!
No comments:
Post a Comment