God: The Ultimate Supplier of Antonyms

Recently, I have noticed that when I turn on KLOVE, a majority of the songs have to do with God’s never-ending grace.  It seems every song played reveals a message about the grace we receive from our salvation.  I have also noticed different blogs I come across have the same overall point: God is Amazing Grace.  So, after giving it much thought, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and write a blog about this thing called grace that everyone seems to be buzzing about.

Grace: noun \ˈgrās\

: a way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward

: a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving

         

When I Googled grace, those were the two definitions that came up.  They are two main ways the world defines grace.  And while both, I suppose, can be considered correct, neither fully define the depth and greatness of God’s grace.

About a month ago, I went to the Winterjam concert.  Before the concert, I was standing outside with the group I went with.  We had been waiting for awhile, and I was talking to my friend Bugg.  We were talking about how in high school, I had won state championships with band.  (Don’t ask how the conversation got brought up, because I do not remember, and she probably doesn’t either.)  Anyways, we were discussing how it felt for me after working so hard for months hoping for just a chance to win.  At the time, the conversation was just that: a conversation.

Later on that night, Matthew West came on stage and sang his recent song “Grace Wins.”  Ever since I first heard the song, I have been obsessed with its message.  Before he sang it, he talked about how an individual had told him of how he had personally affected his life through a song.  And that, in such an amazing way, led Matthew to explain how he kept papers of stories of people on stage with him for encouragement…stories that told of how God’s grace had worked in their lives.  After talking, Matthew threw the papers up in the air, and began to play “Grace Wins.”

And this got me thinking as I listened to Matthew sing one of my favorite songs.  There were numerous stories that Matthew threw up in the air.  And each story – plus so, so many more, was different.  Each person experienced different trials.  And each person needed a specific thing to contradict their struggle in life.  That’s where God comes in – with His grace.  For any possible terrible thing a human being can experience, God has the solution.  He has the antonym to everything.

Lonely?  God has companionship.

Hurt?  God has healing.

Betrayed?  God has love.

Scared?  God has courage.

Weak?  God has strength.

And the list goes on and on and on…

Go ahead.  Try it.  Think of what you are struggling with right now.  Think of every worldly thing you have tried to use to get past the hurt.  None of it worked, am I right?  Well, here is some of the greatest news you will ever hear in your life: God is the Ultimate Supplier Antonyms.

John 1:16

“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Because of who Jesus is, we can receive grace.  And more grace.  And even more grace.  And more grace than that.  And more and more and more grace.  Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness – the darkness that we all find ourselves in daily.  (Oh look, another example of Christ supplying another antonym for us).  There is no part of this world that can keep us from God.  No pain, struggle, or hurt can block you from receiving the grand experience of God’s grace.  He is literally one prayer away from supplying you with the antonym you need.  And what’s even better – you don’t have to work for it.  It is yours when He becomes your Lord and Savior.  The price has already been paid, and the victory has already been won.

It isn’t like a band, football, or basketball state championship.  You don’t have to earn it, or earn just a chance to possibly win it.  Jesus already won the greatest battle ever by being nailed to a cross.  He already bore our sins so that we can receive grace upon grace.  When I thought back on my conversation with Bugg about winning championships, it hit me that the most wonderful thing we could ever need to win has already been won.  We try to win trophies, medals, and rings by spending hours at practices and competitions/games.  But we don’t need any of those things when it comes to God’s grace.  Christ is beyond amazing and already took care of the dirty work.  He already won the victory; therefore, He wins every time.  His grace wins every single time.

Grace Wins