Forgiveness is a big deal, and we have trouble grasping it.
We can understand and accept that we are flawed. We experience evidence to validate that position daily. Be it our interactions with others, the actions we take in secret, or the inaction we tolerate, we all come up short of becoming the ideal we aspire to. But where do we go from there? Can we be redeemed or have we already too far gone?
The Bible tells us that forgiveness and redemption are possible. That forgiveness is a gift offered us via acceptance of Jesus death on the cross. That his sacrificial act alone covers the whole of our past, present, and future errs. And through his grace we can be reset on our path.
So what do we do with that information? This is a question that has been faced by people for millennia. For the people of Jude's time wrestled with it as well:
“What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master.”
The people of Jude's time, much like ourselves, were practical. They understood the message, accepted it, and then continued their lives. And like us, some of them stumbled down a troubling line of reasoning. They supposed that since they were already forgiven, they had license to live in any manner of their choosing. An ultra-practical interpretation that conveniently requires no change in behavior.
Unfortunately it also misses the point. For the grace experienced is not a result of contract but of relationship. And as we are all aware, relationships require significant effort by both parties to maintain. Our love and understanding should therefore manifest themselves in our lives. Some changes may occur overnight, but other aspects of our lives will require time to transition. But if the love and appreciation are real, the change will undoubtedly follow.
What aspects of your life have you been hesitant to let go of even though you recognize their deleterious effects? I encourage you to reconsider your holdouts and lean into the relationship today and experience the wonderful reciprocity.