We have forgotten how HOLY God truly is. If God so much as materialized on earth in all His power and glory without a robe of human flesh, all of creation would spontaniously combust. Every atom in heaven and earth would flee in terror from His presence. The rocks would cry out weeping for mercy. They are wiser that we. Yet God, in His grace and mercy, came to us as the holy healer who walked the desert sands of Palestine. The healer was brutally beaten... the hands that healed were pierced by nails. There, outside of the city He hung on a cross... for you. All for you... and we have the arrogant audacity to malign the very essence of His grace? Oh that we were as wise as the rocks!!!
We have no idea how many times angels have stood, hands on the very hilts of their swords ready to annihilate us... yet God stays their hand and says, "Patience... patience." In disbelief the angels say, "Holy One, do you not see their vile, sinful, detestible wickedness???!!!" And as a tear rolls down His HOLY face He answers...
"But I love them. They are my children. May their shame, guilt, punishment, and damanation be upon me. May my cross and suffering be counted as their own. While they were yet sinners... I loved them... and I died for them. They are... my children."
And we dare insult the Spirit of Grace???
Oh that we would take Paul's words as the most serious warnings of all Scripture...
Galatians 5:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
If ANY law or tradition is seen as being able to justify you in God's sight... YOU'VE FALLEN FROM GRACE. CONDEMNED WHERE YOU STAND. WITHOUT GRACE... WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE!!!
And WHO would EVER want that???
Only one so blind to their own sin and vile condition that they actually think that they can impress God with their pathetic, diseased, and superficially pious religiosity. In loosing sight of God's HOLINESS... we've lost sight of our own sinfulness. Only from the position of the most desperate of sinful, vile, wretched can we truly appreciate God's Holiness... and His grace and love towards us.
Without grace... we might as well all go home and "live it up". Because we're absolutely doomed. Ah... but praise Him for His love and grace. Because it is through His grace that He brings true glory to Himself. All of creation was poised to watch God destroy everything when man fell... but when God demonstrated GRACE... He revealed His LOVE. And in this He receives all glory, honor, and praise.
Without grace... it's all in vain.