Built on Grace

www.bible.com/1713/heb.4.16.csb

In Will Ferrell’s “Elf” he gets very angry with a fake Santa Claus in the toy department at Macy’s. Will’s “Buddy” knows the real Santa Claus and can spot this counterfeit, so he announces to the crowd gathered to see “Santa” that this man sits “on a throne of lies”. Ouch!

When describing the throne of God, the Hebrews writer chooses an interesting word. He doesn’t use “judgment” for example. He doesn’t apply “justice” or “punishment” as a moniker for this throne. He calls it a “throne of grace”. Approaching God with confidence is made much easier because He sits on a throne of grace. There is love here and joy. But instead of judgment there is grace.

This verse goes in the explain the reason, to give us grace and mercy in our time of need. Have you ever needed grace? It’s funny, when I need grace, it’s when I have fallen into sin. When I am in sin, going to God is the last thing I want to do. I feel shame and guilt. I don’t want the God of the universe to see me like that! But that is precisely when the invitation is made. He invites us to His throne of grace, His very presence, at the very time we are trying to avoid Him. But it is an invitation to put our sin and guilt aside and run back into His arms. God did not call us to a life of guilt, but grace. We present to Him our brokenness and He restores us. He welcomes us, but we have to make the hard walk back into His presence. It is up to us to shuffle our feet, turning from the siren song of sin to the throne of grace.

God bless you today!