God’s grace is available in Jesus to all!

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8

Noah was a righteous man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. When the whole earth was filled with wickedness, and all people around him did only evil in the sight of the Lord, he had a believing, faithful and obedient heart for Lord to receive His instructions. Quietly, Noah believed in God and walked with Him, when others closed their heart and lived in unbelief. He was a pretty good man, wasn’t he?

In contrast, Saul of Tarsus was an aggressive and zealot man who destroyed churches and Christians. He gave his approval and supported them when they stoned Stephen, a disciple of Christ, to death. Yet, when Saul was breathing out murderous threats to Christians and was on the way to Damascus to arrest believers in Christ, God’s grace reached out to him and changed his life 180-degree angle. He started walking in the exact opposite direction from that point on. His only desire was to pour out the rest of his life for the loving savior, Jesus Christ.

King David was following the Lord wholeheartedly at an young age. Then later in his life, he failed terribly and committed two grievous sins – adultery and murder. Psalm 51 shows his pleading to the Lord in tears, for forgiveness and mercy, from the Lord against whom he sinned. God’s grace reached out to him again upon confession of his sins. But Saul, his adversary, the first king of Israel, continued in his rebellious and unrepentant life and ended up not receiving the grace of the Lord. He perished in the war with the Philistines. Actually, he ended up in suicide.

I have more examples to provide, but time and space restrict me.
Beloved, my question is this – Do you think anyone is beyond the grace and mercy of God? I recently read about a murderer who was convicted of 17 killings, from 1978 to 1991. His name is Jeffrey Dahmer. He was a cruel man who pressed untold miseries on his victims. However, the love of Jesus Christ and the gospel changed him. He said he repented of his brutal and sinful lifestyle. He said he was “born again” and trusted Christ as His savior when he was in the Columbia Correction facility in Portage. In May 1991, Dahmer was baptized by a minister in the prison whirlpool.

For some people, God’s grace is difficult to fathom. But that is what makes God’s grace entirely unmerited, unearned and powerful.

Then I thought about the words of Jesus in Luke 15:7, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” The incident of Jesus talking to a repentant criminal on the cross also flashed through my mind. It is in Luke 23:39-43. It says they’re one of the criminals who hung there with Jesus insulted Him and said are you not Messiah? Then save yourself and us? But the second criminal on the other side of Jesus replied to him and said, “we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man (referring to Jesus) has done nothing wrong. Then the man turned to Jesus and expressed his faith in Him. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus immediately answered him and said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Though this criminal died on the cross in a few moments, his spirit went to be with the Lord in paradise forever.
It is indeed a true statement that says, “God gave His love to us in that even while we were sinners Christ died for us?” Romans 5:8. Jesus Himself said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32).

Do you see the wonder-working power and beauty of the grace of God that is available in and through, His Son, Jesus Christ? Do you think anyone is beyond the grace and forgiveness of God? Bible says the only person who is beyond the grace and forgiveness of God is the one who dies in unbelief with an unrepentant heart. God’s grace is available immediately upon our faith and acceptance of Christ as savior and Lord. Beloved, Just one prayer away is the dynamite power of God’s grace! But those who refuse to acknowledge their sins and accept Christ as their savior will never see and experience the beautiful and wonderworking grace of God. It is that simple, isn’t it?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I need your love and forgiveness that is available in Christ Jesus. I know I am a sinner and I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. Please grant your grace to me today, Lord. I submit my life to you today. Use me for your glory. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”