The Reflection of Grace

"How can you know?" says the broken man, at the end of his dreams and the beginning of despair. "How can you know for sure that the philosophy you cling to will save you? What could God do for the remnants of a life destroyed? How can you be sure of the motives, the intent of a mind that conceived the tree in the garden, the flood that destroyed the earth, who allows pain and death and injustice and destruction to enter the lives of every man, woman and child on this planet?"

"Why should I trust Him, this God of vengeance, of flood and fire?"

Were it not for one aspect of grace, one all defining moment of time and space and matter, I would fear His power, doubt His benevolence. Were it not for two sandy feet walking a beach on the other side of the world, were it not for gentle hands that healed illness and stilled storms and made fish and bread and wine where there was none... we would have every reason to dread.

But rest, weary soul. Trust. Omnipotent hands that created all became tiny infant fingers flailing wildly in a cattle feed box. The mind that conceived the ten commandments and punished the dissenters learned his letters and numbers beside his classmates. The voice that commanded the flood waters to destroy also laughed in delight, and spoke comfort to the broken, the grieving, the guilty.

The heart that grieved the act of creation for all its painful results, grieved in prayer over our plight in a garden late one night. Walked the road to our execution, and took our cross up on His shoulders, bled our blood and died our humiliating and excruciating death.

This is a God to trust. To love. To give everything you have to know.

Do not only look at His unbearable image of power and light. Look also to his humble reflection, see his tender smile, rest in the sight of his familiar eyes.

See all that He is. And give all that you are.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -Hebrews 4:15-16