God´s Grace...

GOD´S GRACE: IS IT A GIFT FALLEN FROM HEAVEN… OR DO I OBTAIN IT DAY BY DAY THROUGH MY PERSEVERANCE AND MY THANKFUL HEART?


By: Gladys Raquel Hernández

God´s Grace has been spread out in abundance over the human race that wishes to encounter our Creator, since the raising of Jesus Christ to heaven who was brought back to life, up to now, and the Grace time will come to an end with the raising of the church of the Lord that will be taken to His presence at any time from now on, pursuant to the biblical prophecies.

The following biblical verses refer to the concepts hereinabove mentioned:

“With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God´s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to encounter the Lord in the sky. From that time on, we will all be with the Lord forever”. (1º Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Those people who wish to accept Jesus Christ as their only savior and to apologize for their sins, may do so during this time, and God´s Grace will be spread out over them without any reproach whatsoever. That is, the Grace is a gift given by God and we are not worth of it. As God is good, (Psalm 107:1) He wants to redeem us and give us eternal life, as Jesus has already paid a high price: His cruel death in a cross with that purpose, so that we do not spend the eternity in the lake of fire and burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8), because all of us have sinned and fallen short of God´s glory. (Romans 3:23)

We should consider the following biblical verses which state these concepts:

"He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later He will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47)

Now, How many years of life are ahead of me since I have received Jesus Christ in my heart? How many days of my life are ahead so that God´s Grace covers me in times of trials, anguish, hindrances and difficulties whatsoever? Is God´s Grace enough for me? Do I endure the trials that come to me, even though Jesus´s Grace covers me, protects me, shelters me and backs me all the days of my life?

On one occasion, the Apostle Paul told the Lord that he no longer endured a suffering he was undergoing, during his great and extraordinary evangelistic ministry to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).

The Apostle Paul said:

“Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan´s angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud. Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. (2º Corinthians 12:7-8)

The Lord replied:

“My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak”. (2º Corinthians 12:9)

How interesting the answer Jesus Christ gave to him, isn´t it? Jesus meant that the more attacks, struggles and trials we have to face in our lives, the weaker we will feel; thus, we will allow the power of Christ to rest on us and strengthen us as well. Therefore, our service to God will give a better result if we allow Jesus Christ to live into us.

We should notice the reflection on the part of the Apostle Paul:

“So if Christ keeps giving me His power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong”. (2º Corinthians 12:9-10)

Thus, the weaker I am, the more I will allow that my “Me” dies and that the Spirit of Christ lives in me; therefore, I will be strong in the Lord!!! (Galatians 2:20)

We can appreciate these biblical verses:

“You don´t gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you”. (1º Peter 2:20-21)

The Christian life is difficult and requires a certain spiritual maturity to endure and to face the trials and difficulties of life in peace, to love and respect God in spite of adversities.

Therefore, the Lord tells us:

“All you need is my kindness, my love, my mercy, the salvation of your soul and your incorruptible and eternal body that you will get provided you keep on being faithful right to the end of your life”. (1º Corinthians 15:52-53 – Matthew 24:13)

The Christian career is a difficult, hard but beautiful task that is worth undergoing in this earthly life, which is built day by day by God´s Grace, just by being faithful right to the end of our lives. Then, we will be saved!!! (Matthew 24:13)

AMEN!!!