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Cross Words: How Many More Times?
If I were God, and thank Him I’m not, I would be inclined to give up on certain people. The ones who vow to do something that never gets done. Those that promise to be somewhere yet never appear. Others who pledge to stop some destructive habit yet continue on. Yes at times I could drop them and never look back. Friends and family included. Even myself.
It amazes me that God hasn’t given up on me by now. What will it take? How many promises made at an emotionally sensitive moment must go unfulfilled before He casts me from His presence? How many assignments must I fail to start, much less complete, until He says “It’s over”?  How many more undisclosed skeletons in my closet can I continue to dust around before I am His no more?
If I were God, and I thank Him I’m not, I wouldn’t last another minute. I’ve had too many opportunities to right my wrongs.  Too many life lessons to make the same mistakes over and over. More than just once too often have I found myself on my knees asking for a second chance. Or a third. Then a fourth. Yes I’d be through with myself alright. 
I’m glad I’m not God. For many reasons. But mostly because no matter how I try, I find it difficult to completely grasp this concept of grace and forgiveness. Even greater the challenge is to put that same concept into practice. Maybe greater still is to possess the patience to never waiver from that practice.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

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