As a new driver, I considered my mini van the coolest vehicle on the road! Only one car did I desire more: my father’s. He drove a brand new, sleek black, Honda Accord, and I envied him for it.
One weekend, my brother and I decided to film a homemade video with some friends of ours (this was obviously “pre-x-box”, or, P.X.B.). For one scene, we needed an empty garage, so I quickly volunteered to move dad’s car. I didn’t bother to ask, but jumped in, started it up and backed out (a little bit faster then necessary because there were girls watching). Suddenly I heard a horrible sound. A loud CRASH turned my attention to my right side mirror. My heart stopped. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “All that was left were some hooks and some wire.” I began planning my future, starting with how far I thought I could drive before my dad noticed I was gone. I figured I had about a two hour head start… “Mike, go tell dad.” I was brought back to reality by my brother’s words. The thought made me sick. I began to protest, but realized I didn’t have enough money or survival knowledge to hide in Greenland for the rest of my life, so I went inside to find my father. I found him in his office, and approached him slowly (making note of all possible exits). “Um, da-ad,” I cracked, “I smashed the mirror off your car.” I braced myself for the death blow, but it never came. I opened my eyes. My dad had a look of disappointment on his face, but his eyes showed love. “Don’t worry; I’ll get it fixed,” he said. I leaped into the air and cried out with joy. I had received grace and forgiveness! He paid the bill, but I gladly and voluntarily worked to pay him back. It was the least I could do in response to the mercy he had shown me.
We are not the first to mess up. Adam and Eve had everything they ever needed, but they wanted more. The only tree in the Garden of Eden they were forbidden to eat from was the only one they desired. That tree belonged to their Father, but their selfishness drove them to break God’s only stipulation. In shame they hid, but you can’t hide from God.
We share in their shame. Each of us has messed up. We have turned our backs on God and pursued our own selfish desires and now stand condemned before God. However, the good news of the Bible is that God, when we deserved death, paid the price for us by sending His only Son to die in our place. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Have you lost the wonder of God’s grace? When we fully understand this grace, obedience should be our natural response, and there is nothing more liberating in the entire world!
Mike Blackaby is 25 years old and is the college and young adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, GA. Mike loves to play music, loves to snowboard, play hockey, and cheers for the Colorado Avalanche. He is terrified of spiders, but loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies, taking road trips, building camp fires, and will do any roller coaster if someone goes with him. You can contact him via Facebook.