Experiencing God’s Grace

A Lesson Learned

I don’t know if it was my younger brother Dave, or myself, who had the bright idea of starting up the tractor that day. Likely. It was me. Certainly, boredom and youthful ideas don’t exactly make for a safe combination. But one lazy afternoon our mutual curiosity didn’t need much coaxing as we wandered into the machine shed.

Inside, the old Quonset hut looked like a resting place for both old equipment and new. Outwardly, its appearance matched the century farm charm that made it fun to explore and discover generational treasures around the homestead.

Parked in the center of the machine shed was our stepdad Jim’s, red tractor. It was a solid workhorse. Morning and evening he would drive it to feed the livestock. And in between times it handled a plethora of chores and an assortment of implements. It held a special attraction that warranted climbing up in the seat for a better inspection. That’s when we discovered the key was in the ignition. What an invitation! Without thought the key was turned and the tractor’s mechanical voice not only responded but was magnificently amplified in the antique acoustic hut.  

In less time than it took to start, a synchronized realization flashed across the marquee of our pea-sized brains, spelling out big trouble. To add to our horror, turning the key back to its original position did nothing to stifle the reverberating roar.

Hopping off the tractor we ran out of the shed, down the length of it to the narrow dirt path among the tall fir trees. Across the gravel road lived Virgil, the hired man. His grandpa’s intuition must have deciphered more from our faces than the ensemble of words tumbling from our mouths.

In his unhurried stride we followed beside him, then watched in amazement when he turned the tractor key even farther in a concentric turn, wonderfully restoring quiet to the day.

Regrettably, we’ve all made mistakes.  

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Thankfully, we have an advocate. His name is Jesus Christ. He gives us grace and restores our fellowship with God when we sin because, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19 NKJV).

What does that mean? Paraphrasing, sin entered through one man, Adam.

Jesus is the second Adam. Through His obedience we are made righteous by His atoning blood. It’s as if we’ve never sinned. That’s the gift of salvation.

It looks like this, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV).

That afternoon Dave and I encountered grace. We never got what we deserved. In fact, Jim never had a conversation with us. To this day we never knew if he learned what we did.

Perhaps you need to experience God’s grace. If so, I encourage you to “taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalms 34:8).”

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) exhorts us, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

If you believe with your heart, you can receive that free gift.

Simply, confess:

Jesus, I’m a sinner in need of a savior.

I believe you died for my sins, and that you rose again on the third day.

I’m ready for you to be my Lord and Savior.

Come into my life. Change me. Make me new and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

Amen.

If this sounds too simple it’s because we often overcomplicate it.

A few weeks ago, the thought came to mind, I’ve done so much wrong in my life.

Immediately, I heard Jesus say, “I took all that on Me, so you could live free.”

Whomever is reading this, I pray you receive the saving knowledge of freedom in Christ and the understanding of His good grace working in and through you.

Blessings, my friend.