“We then as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye received not the grace of God in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1
It was in the book of Genesis that Moses wrote down the Lord’s words: “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (6:3) When the Lord gave these words to Moses, there is no question that He is making clear that men, mankind, will have limits. These limits not only deal with time, but with opportunity. The context of what He declared was that of the falling away of men from Him, turning away from the way of faith. The result was the multiplicaition of wickedness on the earth to the point where “…every imagination of the thoughts of his (man’s) heart was only evil continually.” (6:5) There would be only one family who would be saved from the judgment of God by the flood, and that would be Noah’s wife, his three sons and their wives. The limits which God imposed upon man were a clear reminder that opportunity and responsibility given by God can be lost, the resources squandered, and the possibilities for good and the glory of God revealed in this earth, completely missed and wasted.
One of the great messages of the Bible, a theme which runs from the beginning to its ending, is that of hope, an expectation of salvation, blessing, restoration, and revival. This is only possible by the God of hope, and can only be realized by the seeking of Him, humbling oneself before Him, appealing to Him in submission and faith, for His very real intervention in the individual life, family, or nation. A wonderful example of this is found in the writings of Joel, when the Lord addresses a disobedient people to “…turn (ye) even unto Me with all your heart…(2:12)) He then goes on to say, “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Him of the evil.” (2:13) The basis for hope resides in the nature and character of God. The prophet Jonah also knew this in considering the Ninevites, Israel’s enemies. Jonah wrote, “…for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Thee of the evil.” (4:2) The Lord even promised Israel in Joel’s day, that He would “…restore the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.” (2:25) The Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, promised Israel in captivity, “For I will restore health unto thee, and will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.” (Jer. 29:17) With God there is always hope, if He is sought and found for restoration, His intervention to forgive and cleanse from sin, then give His Spirit to strengthen to rise out of the pit of hopelessness.
When we come to writings of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church, he writes concerning limits of opportunity, and loss of that open door. He calls it, receiving the grace of God in vain. He speaks of the infinite grace of God showered upon every believer, but only known in fullest measure when it is received in faith, for the glory of God. He speaks of being “workers” with God in the reaching of the world with the message of reconciliation with God, being brought to know Christ who has reconciled us to God. Paul writes of the necessity of realiziing that TODAY is the accepted time in the eyes of God for His salvation to be known and made known. It is an opportunity that has its limits, but also possesses great possibilities. The grace of God is abundantly available today, but can only be received, and used well by the one redeeming the time, communicating the blessing.
Dear Father, Grant us present abundant grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.