Law Versus Gospel - Can I Just Tell You?

Can I just tell you?  God is so good, I can't even stand it.  Right now, today, as it looks from behind my eyes, I have two sons who are building their testimony - I have two daughters who are building their life.  I am not wealthy - Lord knows, I'm not even comfortable, financially speaking.  We homeschool (or we homeschoolED, past tense, each of our four children) and we have debt, and two of our children have not, so far, walked with God wholeheartedly.

In the home education community, that just might make us big fat failures.  It at least makes us slightly unfit failures.  We certainly aren't skinny achievers of the Homeschool Dream.  In grade-speak, if you split the difference, we come away with a C- or a D+.

Our boys aren't Opie Taylor in Mayberry.  They are more like Buckwheat or Butch, from Little Rascals, with an attitude and a mean streak.

Oh dear.

And I'm glad. 

I say it with fear and trembling.  I.  Am.  Glad.  I tremble, because the reality of what I am telling you has  broken my heart.  It has broken the very heart of my heart.  You know...that place where idols tend to be hidden away.  "Return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you!"  and "Before I was afflicted, I went astray..."

I can be glad in the Gospel.  I can be glad because, last time I checked, the Prodigal Son was called the Prodigal SON, not the Prodigal Monster, or the Prodigal Embarassment, or the Prodigal Foster Child.  And a son is a son is a son.  A daughter is a daughter is a daughter.  I will not hang my head in shame, because Christ is the friend of sinners, and gave His life to bring children into glory.  Like Peter of New Covenant fame, I will not call unclean that which God calls clean.   Neither of my sons have denied Christ - they are the Lord's because He is married to the backslider.  Doesn't that just mess with you?  Be glad.  Like me.

The Lord has set me up high, way up high - and given me the panoramic view of Grace, and I can see my sons returning by faith when they are yet a long way off.  So my heart can run towards them, not away.      

Will they be miserable until they surrender wholeheartedly?  Not at first.  But eventually - the misery will become palpable.

It was palpable for me.  It is palpable for me.  I still find unsurrendered pieces of my heart now and then - the lack of peace is the barometer, and I am glad of it.

Oh, I am glad, I am glad, I am glad!  He has made me glad, and filled my heart with joy.  I declare it yet again/again/again, before the outcome can be seen, that grace will accomplish what the law could never do.  Oh, my boast is so in the Lord on this one!

I completely trust in the power of the blood to save.  And sanctify.

Ya'll, I am a jacked up Jesus Freak.  I read the curses of the law this past week, as listed in Exodus.  The list was long.  I got so happy in God, I could have shouted and chased traffic, for the sheer joy of the revelation of grace.  Curses can't touch me.  On my worst day, they can't touch me.

He (Christ) became sin for me.  His obedience and righteousness are credited to me, and the curse of the law is broken over my life, because I do not in any measure depend on my own obedience to the law.  Cursed is everyone....oh, hear me!...everyone who does not obey the law and everything contained in it. 

You haven't kept the law in the past, and you won't keep it next week.  The only way to get out from under the curse is to be in Christ Jesus.  Crucified with Him, buried with Him in baptism, raised with Him as a new creature.

I'm glad.  I'm simply glad.  God is so good, I can't even stand it.  And I don't need perfect children or a certain financial lifestyle to know, down to the marrow of my bones, that I am blessed and highly favored.