Fallen from Grace

The grace of God is our only foundation.

Many leaders whose names graced the bookshelves and CD racks of the Christian bookshops in my young adult years seem to have come short of what they have preached. Billy Joe Daugherty passed away of lymphoma in November. He was only 57. So many questions come to mind. Why didn't he live in divine health? Why wasn't he healed?

Today the newspapers reported that Oral Roberts has passed on, at the age of 91. He was in hospital at the time--he fell and broke some bones. He later died of Pnuemonia. Why did this man, whose healing ministry was documented, have to die like this?

The articles written about Oral Roberts drew me to read about his son Richard, who resigned recently after allegations about him and his wife using the University's funds for a lavish home and golf club memberships surfaced. What happened here?

Then of course there's Ray Boltz, who has come out the closet and openly declared that he is gay. In fact he has now joined a gay Christian denomination. From the man who gave us 'Thank You' and 'Watch the Lamb'. How did this happen?

Have you heard of the phrase 'fallen from grace' to described a minister caught in sin? Well you know what? I agree with that term, but not in the way you think.

From the standpoint of heaven, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. So why did these luminaries on the Christian landscape fail to receive heaven's best for their lives? Because that’s what they did, they failed to receive. The bible says that as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. Sickness is a curse. Having accidents and breaking your bones is a curse. The shame of homosexuality is a curse. The bible also says that the power of sin. . .is the law.

Like what I felt the Lord speak to my heart the other day, 'I do not heal because people are good, I heal because of the finished work or the cross.' Likewise we do not receive the power to overcome sin because of our own efforts, in fact entertaining the shame we feel because of our shortcomings without realizing that we are freely forgiven leads us to deeper depths of sin.

Let's stop playing around with the law in our lives, as if a little bit of it is good. No my friends, it is absolutely deadly.

May you and I not be counted amongst those that have fallen. . .from grace. Abandon yourself completely to him by His grace and receive all He is. As you do that, His life in you will cause any sins you are struggling with to fall off like dead leaves. But first look to Him, your Tree of Life. The only one who can disqualify you from all He purchased for you on the cross is you--don't do it.