Anna blew it big time. She knew if any one found out what she did that
she would not only get into major trouble, she would also get kicked out of school.
When the principal called her into his office, she knew that she would be accused.
She began to sweat and her heart pounded. She was afraid and very troubled! She had
no peace. Only guilt and condemnation! She knew about the principal's wrath! She was dead!
"What's wrong, Anna?" The janitor asked as she dragged herself down the hallway.
"I'm really sorry!! I don't know what came over me! I damaged the blackboard and
I think the principal will suspend me," she said with genuine sorrow.
"Don't worry, Anna. I will go with you," he said.
Indeed, the principal had heard about the damaged black board. He wanted
her to account for what she did.
"I am very sorry. I did mess up the board," she began. But the janitor stood up next
to her and interrupted.
" I will take that on myself and pay for it in full," he said.
Anna took his word for it.
"OK," the principal agreed. "Anna, you are free to go. "
Hurray!!!Anna had peace! She had been saved from the principal's wrath!!
She was so overjoyed, that she decided to never damage another black board again
and she wanted to help others get to know the janitor's love, grace and gift!
Romans 5:1, 9
Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Much more then, being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through him.
Like Anna, even though we do not earn forgiveness, Jesus took our sins upon himself
and paid for them, in full, by His blood. Just as the janitor interceded on Anna's behalf,
Jesus Christ is our mediator and intercessor. He stands in the gap between God and us.
No, we did not earn it! Yes, we mess up over and over again and we were even dead in
trespasses and sins! When we believed what Jesus accomplished for us, we were justified
when he was raised up from the dead. That is why we have peace with God. Our sins are
atoned for, paid for in full. There is now no condemnation! [Romans 8:1] We are saved
from wrath!
This grace and mercy is not a license for us to continue "damaging black boards."
[Romans 6:1, 2, 11; Romans 8:12] Our response to God's love and forgiveness is our
reasonable service. It is to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable
unto God, and to be transformed by the renewing of the mind!
[Romans 12:1,2] Then we can better help others receive what we did!
Thanks be to God for His grace, mercy and peace! Amen.
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