Grace After Chastisement

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Eze 36:25-26 AV)

The prophets have a pattern.  The majority of their message is indeed on the subject of judgment.  Whether it is judgment to Israel or judgment to her neighbors, fair warning is given that repentance might be the result.  If not, then judgment comes.  However, in the case of Israel, the message of judgment is balanced out with the promise of restoration.  There is practical wisdom in this.  God does not balance out judgment with grace for mere emotion’s sake.  The is a greater motive for this.

Labor was one of the means of punishment which my father doled out.  It could be cleaning out the garage.  Or, perhaps straightening the basement.  Sometimes, it was washing walls or packing insultation.  Don’t ask!  In any event, there was a duration assigned to it.  An hour; a half day; a week, etc.  Once the time requirement was met, we were free to resume our plans.  As long as we didn’t fall into temptation again, we were free from the fear of punishment.  Sometimes, at the time of sentence, my father would promise something far better after the completion of the task.  An evening casting rods.  A few hours at the driving range.  Maybe a trip to the mall.  Or, our favorite in the north, a trip to the hills for sledding.  The promise of future grace worked to enduring present punishment.  Knowing the punishment has a set duration and intensity that ends with grace made the punishment go a whole lot easier and faster.

It is important to remember that God must deal with our disobedience.  He would be an irresponsible Father if He did not.  But also remember that with punishment comes grace.  The punishment will end.  The sun will shine again.  We deserve far more than God brings to us.  Our sin deserves banishment.  Yet, God in His love and mercy, continues to show grace that we might be reconciled to Him.  So, endure the hard times.  They are designed to make you a better person.  Put up with, and learn from the troubles of life caused by our choices.  They only serve to change who and what we are.  However, as the burden grows heavy, remember the burden will eventually be lifted.  God will show grace again.  That grace will be greater than any He has shown before.