BY T. F. TENNEY, LOUISIANA DISTRICT SUPERINTENDANT

Several years ago, I ran into a book by the above title. I did not read it. I just saw the cover and immediately the underlying truth was unveiled. Though there are women named Grace, that was not what the writer of the book had in mind. He was speaking of the tremendous grace of God.

The unmerited favor and love of God toward man grace. No amount of works, no amount of goodness can bring you into the grace of God. It is something He freely gives because of the sacrifice of Calvary. Hebrews 4:16 teaches us that because of His grace we can approach the throne with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. He did not say that we are given judgment to dispense in time of criticism, but grace to help. “Freely ye received, freely give” is the admonition of our Lord. If I have received from Him grace, then I must dispense mercy. It then becomes grace to help. How many of us have not needed the grace of God to help us?

In my walk as a Christian, I have had people give me judgment and condemnation when more than anything else I needed grace and understanding. I knew how I had failed. I needed someone to tell me
there was hope.

I read a story some time ago of a man who could not swim. He fell into a swimming pool and apparently was drowning. An individual whose name was Law passed by and said, “You should not have fallen into that pool. Because you have fallen in and cannot swim, you will drown.”

This was absolutely true. The man should not have fallen into the pool. He should have watched where he was going. He knew he could not swim and should have avoided the pool. At the same time, this truth did
nothing to help him because he was drowning.

A second individual, whose name was Pity, came strolling by. Pity looked down and said, “I’m so sorry….” Though he was very sincere, his sorrow did not help get the man out of his dilemma.

Then it happened! Grace happened upon the scene. Immediately Grace, who was an excellent swimmer, jumped into the pool and pulled the drowning man to safety.

Grace then took the man to Law and told him to listen to, follow, and learn to swim from Law.

This is the story – a man by the name of Jesus jumped into the pool of life and pulled us out to safety. He was grace to help in the time of need. Now He takes us to His word, where we are instructed so we may not make the same mistake again.

Thank God for grace to help in the time of need someone to jump in and pull us out and love us! “Just as I am, without one plea, except Thy blood was shed for me…O Lamb of God, I come…Nothing in my hand
1 bring, simply to thy cross I cling…O Lamb of God, I come.”

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA CHALLENGER, PAGE 3, MAY 1999. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.