I got pulled over on the way to work this week. I was going fast. Like really fast. In my defense, the new car we got goes really fast, really easy. But that’s not really a good defense, right?
I rolled down the window as the trooper approached and told me just how fast I was going. Gulp!! As I gave him my license and insurance, I sort of jokingly told him if I had driven my old Jetta that morning (I didn’t because it was on E) I wouldn’t be getting a ticket right now, because old Jetta tells you when you’re going really fast. She gets loud and shaky! He took my cards and went to his vehicle leaving me with my head in my hands, thinking this is really bad. Not good at all!
He returned to my window after a few stomach churning minutes, handed me my cards, and said this.
“Let me ask you, do you think you deserve a ticket this morning?”
Ummm…”Yes, yes I do!” I admitted.
“Well, I’m giving you a warning. You have a clean record. And everyone needs a little grace now and then, right?”
I must admit I nearly choked up and my voice cracked as I said my thanks.
In practical, day-to-day life what is it we think we deserve? Health? A big house? Long life? Rose gardens? The Word tells us we have no idea what a day may bring. And I’m pretty sure Solomon says somewhere in Ecclesiastes “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit”… that may be a paraphrase.
Spiritually in this great controversy between Good and Evil, what do we think we deserve? White robes and bedazzled crowns? Mansions of glory? Puh-lease! That would be like me thinking I didn’t actually deserve a ticket. We all know what the wages of sin is. We know what we deserve.
But our kind Savior comes to us and his words are just a little different than my kind trooper’s. The Savior comes to our rolled down window and says “What do you think you deserve? Your record is a hot mess! But my record is clean and spotless. And I’m giving you grace today. My grace that is sufficient for you. And by the way, it’s also sufficient for all those other hot messes out there!”
My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2Corinthians 12:9
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23–24
It was only by grace and grace alone I escaped getting a big fat ticket this week! And it is by grace and grace alone I am saved. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretched speeder like me!