When We Don't Win

There is an interesting tidbit in the scriptures that I’ve run past a few times.  At the crucifixion of Christ, we learn of a thief hanging on one of the crosses who makes a bold request and it is granted.  He asks Christ to remember him when Christ comes into his kingdom. 

Christ’s response:  “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story is told in Luke 23: 32-43, and here is the point.  The thief in our story is in the last minute of his life.  The clock has just about run out and he is tied up.  He can’t go out and do an act of kindness to sort of make up for past sins.  He can’t do anything to redeem himself, except turn to the redeemer himself.  So that is what he does. 

Did you get all of that?

The man’s life would be over soon.

The final buzzer would sound.

He was out of options and out of time.

He was a thief, who had stolen and stolen a lot. 

And he probably lied about it too.

He was bad enough to be condemned to death.

He was not winning in this life and he knew it.

And yet, he is offered redemption. 

That is AMAZING GRACE.

Have you won every time in life?  Have you always acted right, spoken right, gone to the right places, lived right, told the truth 100% of the time, never cheated anyone, anytime in anyway? 

Me neither.

When we face those reminders of a failed life, along comes grace.  I love what Brennan Manning says about this.

“Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have played the game.”

~Brennan Manning

The point is this … you and I can’t earn our place in God’s kingdom.  We don’t have a sash with a bunch of merit badges sewed onto it like a Boy Scout.  We don’t get our card punched every time we say a good prayer, or help a little old lady cross a busy street. 

God knows our every weakness, sin, impulse, thought, inclination and proclivity, action and reaction. 

AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY!

Today I asked for and received my measure of grace.  And may you find your peace and forgiveness also.

God IS on our side.

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

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