“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God…” Hebrews 12:15a NIV
Israel contains two major bodies of water, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee, Israel’s largest freshwater lake, is 13 miles long and 7 miles wide and is home to a thriving ecosystem. Filled with abundant marine life and surrounded by lush green foliage, it speaks much about life by the life it holds and the life it offers. Yet 65 miles south of the Sea of Galilee sits yet another, even larger body of water, the Dead Sea. At a whopping 50 miles long and 11 miles wide, it engulfs the Sea of Galilee in mass yet instead of seeing it host an equivalent increase in fish and fauna, it holds none. For the Dead Sea resides at 1300 feet below sea level, has a salt content that is 10 times higher than the oceans of the world, and as a result, is toxic to all fish and vegetation that encounter it. A mere 65 miles in distance sees a stark contrast between the life-giving oasis of Galilee in the north and the desolate life-taking moonscape to the south. So, what is the difference between these two?
The difference is how they process what has been given to them. You see, even though both are fed by the Jordan river, they process its waters very differently. The Sea of Galilee is merely a channel, seeing the waters of the Jordan flow in from the north and then proceed out from the south. The fresh waters of the Jordan refresh, replenish, and feed the larger body of water as it fears not keep them, but instead passes them on in a form of ecological-rich sharing. In stark contrast, even though the Dead Sea is also fed by the Jordan, there is no exit, it is a simple reservoir. You see, the Dead Sea collects the fresh waters of the Jordan and because there is no processing of it, the fresh water is quicky and permanently contaminated into a salty lifeless liquid. What was 65 miles prior a fountain of life, is now stagnant, lifeless, bitter, and caustic. And because of the extremely high salt content, the Dead Sea sees an estimated 7 million tons of water evaporate from its surface each day. Not only is the Dead Sea a death knoll to any fish that dare to enter, it is also death to the waters that enter. Friends, the parallel to the Cristian life is startling.
In the 12th chapter of Hebrews we come across an interesting verse, one that discusses just such a scenario as above, yet concerning not how we process water, but God’s grace. Godly grace can be defined in two ways, “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “getting from God what you don’t deserve.” If you, the good reader of this, have admitted that you are a sinner, repented of that sin, realized your need for a Savior to pay the penalty of that sin, and then asked Jesus Christ to be that personal Savior, then you my brother or sister, have been a recipient of God’s amazing grace. An unworthy sinner saved by the grace of God…one receiving redemption that was unworthy of it. But the questions posits, does God’s grace stop after the miracle moment of salvation? Absolutely not. God’s grace continues to flow richly into the life of the redeemed until they are called home to heavenly eternity. So, yet another question arises, what do you do with the river of Godly grace that sees your cup filled to overflowing each day?
The great and prolific 20th century Bible commentator, William Barclay, saw our above study verse as having a very interesting translation from the original Greek. Barclay wrote that the phrase “falls short of the grace of God” might also be translated as “failing to keep up with the grace of God.” The beautiful idea being that the grace of God in our lives is active and ever moving forward, just as a gentle river ever flowing forward as it meanders through this life. And deeply within that concept, our job is not merely to collect God’s grace and retain it, as a Dead Sea reservoir, holding it tightly, allowing it to become stagnant and lifeless, but to be in-step with it, seeing it flow through us just as the Sea of Galilee sees the life-giving waters of the Jordan flow through it.
So just how do you “keep up with the grace of God” processing it effectively? Well, it’s important that we take careful note of the context in the passage and just how God intended it to be understood. And behold, this verse precedes our study verse:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone…” Hebrews 12:14a NIV
In an effort for Christians to be similar to the Sea of Galilee, we are to receive God’s grace and then allow it to flow through us to love those around us well so that we can live peaceful lives that will display the harmony God desires from His children. Folks, today if there are feuds, quarrels, bitter resentments, or disagreements smoldering in your life, they are not from God and are not desired by God. Get rid of them in this day by seriously processing the grace of God that you have received and just as the Sea of Galilee, get ready to allow it to flow right back out and into the relationships around you. Don’t selfishly elect yourself judge, jury and executioner of anyone that has been deemed as doing you harm, instead offer them “favor they don’t deserve” as you forgive them with God’s abundant grace just as you have been forgiven in the same way by the Lord. For if God first loved us and showed us His amazing grace, how much more we should ‘keep up’ with His grace in delivering it to those around us in this world.
May you today be a channel in delivering the amazing grace of God to the world in which He has placed you ~ Dan
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 ESV
