Amazing grace

ADVANCES in business, technology and other areas means there is much more for us to see and do in our current Western societies. Our choices are almost limitless, which means that for each of us, our realities are different.

And this comes with some advantages as well as disadvantages.

For some people, reality is living is fear… fear of the consequences of debt, sickness, fear of failure, fear of terrorism, fear of crime, fear of death, and so on. Naturally as humans, when we are faced with any type of fear, we explore various solutions.

Many work hard to alleviate some of the causes of their fears, others find ‘Something’ or ‘Someone’ much bigger than themselves. For many Christian, they turn to Christ, to live a live of faith in Him,

Who they believe is the creator of all things and has ultimate control of all things.

This year, the protestant community celebrates 500 years of the Reformation, which was initiated by the German Monk, Martin Luther, who posted 95 Thesis on the door of a church in Wittenberg.

This was a significant period for many who believe in Christ, as it became clear to them, just how amazing the gift of grace is – an unmerited favour, something that is received by someone who does not deserve it, a free gift, received by someone, not because of the good works they have done, but just because. This grace, Martin Luther discovered, is one that comes to those who believe in the God who created the heavens and earth, and in the sacrifice of His Son who was born in a manger and died to save humanity from the penalty of rebelling to the will of God.

So how is it that many celebrate the birth of Christ, the Saviour and His resurrection, but do not experience the benefits of this amazing grace? Many have looked in different places for solutions to their fears. Many have chosen different ways to live out their own realities. But for those who choose the reality of God’s grace, they do so because they believe in a God that is in control of all things, no matter what their today reality is… that in that end, it will all be okay, and if it’s not all well, then it is not the end.