© Ayo Omolayo
“SO YOUR WORKS DO NOT SAVE YOU, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH YOUR FAITH. YOUR WORKS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS AND HAVE NO SAVING POWER. THE LAW COULD NOT EMPOWER MAN TO KEEP THEM BUT MADE MAN A SLAVE TO SIN. IT ONLY INFORMED MAN”.
“Daddy, I need to understand something. There’s this teaching about grace that confuses me. One way or another, we all believe that no man can keep the law. Pray everyday, read bible everyday. Flee immorality, forgive those that wronged you. Those laws are too difficult to keep. So, if the law cannot save, do we still need it? Do not fornicate, do not steal. Since we are under grace, what do we need the law for?” I asked.
“EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO ADDRESS. NOW READ CHAPTER 3 VERSE 8”.
I quickly opened it and read out.
“Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just”.
Hmmmmm. This is it.
“EXACTLY CRIS! THE LAW CANNOT SAVE US, SO WHAT DO WE DO? WE DEPEND ON GRACE THROUGH FAITH. BUT THERE’S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISSING ON THE MESSAGE OF GRACE.
THE LAW WAS THERE AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN THERE. THE PEOPLE OF OLD KEPT STRUGGLING WITH FALLING AND RISING. YES! THE OLD TESTAMENT IS FULL OF THE FALLING AND RISING OF GOD’S PEOPLE FROM SIN TO REPENTANCE. THE LAW COULD NOT GIVE GRACE, IT ONLY REMINDED THEM OF THEIR SINS.
BUT JESUS CAME WITH GRACE. BUT WHAT WAS THE MISSION OF GRACE?
CRIS, WRITE IT AS A SUB TOPIC. WHAT IS THE MISSION OF GRACE?”
“Yes sir! I said as I wrote and underlined it.
“GRACE ACTUALLY CAME TO HELP YOU KEEP THE LAW.
CRIS OPEN TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 AND READ FROM VERSE 17 TO 19″.
I was surprised. What was in that scripture? I don’t think I have an idea of what is written there. I opened it and smiled. God is so awesome.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Verse 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Verse 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.
“Wow! Grace actually came through Jesus to help us keep the law. In the old testament especially the book of Judges, men kept rising and falling. The people would suffer under the hands of the enemies and repent. God would pity them and raise a Judge to deliver them. After the death of the new Judge, they fall back into their sins.
After a while, another enemy comes and enslaves them, they suffer and suffer again. Soon, they repent and cry to God for deliverance. God would raise a Judge and rescue them. After the death of the Judge, they fall back into sin.
They cannot keep the law God gave them. They can only keep it to the extent of their will power. And once a Judge dies, they lose their will power completely. So this circle continued till Jesus came.
Jesus actually came to help us through grace to keep the law. Am I correct?”
“THAT’S MY BABY GIRL!”
I smiled.
“A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MISINTERPRETED THIS SCRIPTURE AND USED IT AS AN EXCUSE TO COMMIT SIN. NO MORE LAW! WE ARE UNDER GRACE. YOU CAN MISS YOUR QUIET TIME AND PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY. DON’T WORRY, GRACE IS THERE. THERE’S NO NEED TO BE UNDER THE LAW. SO WE HAVE FREEDOM IN CHRIST. ABSOLUTE FREEDOM TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TO ENJOY GRACE TO THE FULLEST.
DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS THERE AS BATHROOM WATER. JUST BATH CLEAN AFTER YOU FINISH COMMITING YOUR SINS. THE GRACE OF GOD IS THERE FOR YOU TO STOP OBEYING THE LAW. THROW AWAY THOSE LAWS. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. GRACE COVER YOU”.
“Exactly Daddy!” I said and snapped my fingers.
“YES! WHAT IS THE MISSION OF GRACE?”
“To help us keep and fulfil the law. Without grace, the law cannot be kept”, I answered.
“SO WHO BROUGHT IN THAT DEMONIC DOCTRINE? BECAUSE THE LAW, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY CANNOT BE KEPT, WE SHOULD START COMMITING ADULTERY?”
BECAUSE THE LAW CANNOT KEEP US CONSISTENT IN OUR QUIET TIME, SO NO MORE QUIET TIME, RIGHT?
“No!” I answered.
“SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MISSION OF GRACE?”
“Daddy, I know that you said shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? And the answer is God forbid. But you’re getting me confused. You said the law cannot save us, the law only informs us, the law only condemns us and the more we try to keep it the more we keep rising and falling.
My question is, why do we still have the law? At least we should throw it away since it doesn’t have anything to offer us? It cannot save, it cannot deliver, it’s completely useless. So what do we need those laws for?
I’m not saying we should start fornicating ooo! I’m just trying to be reasonable. What is the mission of the law? I mean, what good things are there to gain from the law? All I’ve been hearing is the law would not save me. I would never be able to keep the law, yet the law is still there. What is it doing there? Why can’t we read only the new testament and abandon the laws of Moses?”
“BEAUTIFUL QUESTION! MY PRETTY EBONY HAS A LEARNING BRAIN!” Came the gentle response.
I smiled and tightened my grip on my pen, ready to write.
“NOW I’M GOING TO TEACH YOU WITH SOMETHING YOU CAN RELATE WITH. IMAGINE YOU’RE A POOR BEAUTIFUL LADY. YOU CANNOT AFFORD 3 SQUARE MEALS A DAY. YOU SUFFER OF STARVATION, LACK OF SHELTER, LACK OF GOOD CLOTHING AND MOCKERY FROM THE RICH GUYS AROUND.
THEN ONE DAY, YOU MET THIS HANDSOME PRINCE OF PEACE, WHO CAME WITH A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL. YOU ACCEPTED HIS RING AND GOT MARRIED TO HIM. THREE MONTHS LATER, YOU DROVE INTO YOUR FORMER COMPOUND IN YOUR EXPENSIVE CAR. YOUR LOOKS, SO BREATH TAKING AND ATTRACTIVE.
EVERYONE GATHERED AROUND YOU TO ASK, WHO MADE YOU LIKE THIS? WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR ANSWER?”
“I would tell them it was my husband’s wealth that made me what I am. In order words, grace. My husband’s wealth symbolizes grace”.
“YOU’RE A SMART BABY GIRL CRIS! YOU’RE REALLY LEARNING FAST!”
I smiled and continued writing.
“THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’M TRYING TO TEACH HUMANITY. IMAGINE THE WIFE TELLING THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION THAT SHE WAS SO HARD WORKING OR I KEPT MYSELF FROM SLEEPING AROUND WITH MEN, THAT WAS WHY THE HUSBAND NOTICED HER AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HER. WOULD THAT BE THE RIGHT ANSWER TO GIVE?”
“No! That would be telling a lie”, I answered.
“GOOD, SO I’M OPENING YOUR EYES TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THE HUSBAND THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHANGE THAT HAPPENED IN HER LIFE. IT’S NOT GOOD TO PRAISE SOMEONE FOR SOMETHING THAT HE OR SHE NEVER DID. MY GLORY, I WILL SHARE WITH NO MAN.
SO, TELLING YOU THAT IT WAS GRACE THAT KEEPS YOU, IS ONLY CALLING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO STOP THANKING THE WRONG PERSON. STOP PRAISING YOUR WORKS OF THE LAW AND START PRAISING GOD FOR THE GRACE HE GAVE YOU”.
“Wow! Thank you Jesus!”
“HOLD ON! DON’T WORRY, YOU’LL PRAISE ME, BUT I NEED TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. SINCE THE LADY REALIZES THAT IT WAS NOT HER HARD WORK THAT MADE THE PRINCE FALL IN LOVE WITH HER. IT WAS NOTHING SHE DID BUT, HE DECIDED TO CHOSE AND LOVE HER. IF SHE THEN SAYS. WOW! SO I DON’T HAVE TO WORK HARD ANYMORE OR KEEP MYSELF PURE FROM IMMORALITY. SHE STARTS DOING WHATEVER SHE LIKES, SLEEPING WITH ANY MAN SHE LUSTS AFTER, ALL BECAUSE HER WORKS DOES NOT DETERMINE HER HUSBAND’S LOVE FOR HER. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?”
“Taking the grace of God for granted!”
“EXACTLY! THAT’S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND. SINCE OUR WORKS DO NOT SAVE US, THEN LET’S THROW IT AWAY AND JUMP INTO THE MUD OF PRAYERLESSNESS. INTO THE MUD OF FORNICATION. INTO THE MUD OF SIN. NO!
MAN WAS ALWAYS RISING AND FALLING, STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE LAW. THEN GOD SAW HIS STATE OF HOPELESSNESS AND BROUGHT GRACE TO EMPOWER HIM TO KEEP THE LAW. GRACE ACTUALLY CAME TO HELP US CONSISTENT IN OUR WALK WITH GOD.
NOW CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING?”
“Please go ahead Sweet Daddy!”
“OKAY! NOW OPEN TO GENESIS CHAPTER 6 AND READ VERSE 8”.
I quickly opened it and read.
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD”, I paused and looked up.
“THE EARTH WAS COMPLETELY CORRUPT. EVERYONE WAS BUSY WALLOWING IN SIN AND INIQUITY. GOD WAS SO ANGRY THAT HE WANTED TO WIPE OFF THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE. BUT WHAT KEPT NOAH FROM PERISHING WITH THE WORLD?
“Grace!”
“WAS IT THOU SHALT NOT KILL?”
“Grace!”
“WAS IT HIS CONSISTENT QUIET TIME AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD?”
“No, it’s grace!”
“COME ON! NOAH WAS SUCH A GOOD MAN! AT LEAST HIS GOODNESS WAS WHAT KEPT HIM?”
“No Daddy! It’s grace!”
“NOW, SUPPOSING NOAH REALIZES THAT IT WAS NOT HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW AND HIS QUIET TIME THAT KEPT HIM, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD. AND HE’S LIKE WOW! SO I’VE BEEN WASTING MY TIME. NO MORE QUIET TIME! NO MORE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD! I’M FREE FROM THE LAW! I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT. ITS NOT THE LAW THAT HAS BEEN KEEPING ME! ITS GRACE! SO LET ME GO AND KILL THOSE MEN THAT INSULTED ME IN THE MARKET THE OTHER DAY. LET ME GO AND DRINK ACHOHOL WITH MY OLD FRIENDS. LET ME VISIT THE BROTHELS AND HAVE FUN.
WOULDN’T HE HAVE PERISHED WITH THAT EVIL GENERATION?”
“Yes, he would”, I answered, nodding in affirmation.
“SO WHAT’S THE BALANCE? IT’S COMPLETELY SIMPLE. THERE’S NO CONFUSION ABOUT IT. IT’S GRACE THAT KEEPS YOU, ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. NEVER LOOK AT YOUR WORKS AND START PRAISING YOURSELF FOR KEEPING THE LAW.
TWO, GRACE CAME TO HELP YOU KEEP THE LAW. SO WHENEVER OBEDIENCE TO GOD LOOKS SO DIFFICULT, CRY OUT FOR GRACE. GRACE ACTUALLY CAME TO HELP YOU SERVE GOD BETTER AND STOP STRUGGLING WITH YOUR WILL POWER.
THIRDLY, KEEP THE LAW! IF TRULY ITS GOD YOU DEPEND ON, THEN YOU WON’T MISS YOUR QUIET TIME. YOU WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO OBEY WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. BUT AS YOU KEEP THE LAW, DON’T LET IT GET INTO YOUR HEAD AND YOU SHIFT FROM LOOKING UNTO JESUS, TO LOOKING UNTO MY WORKS.
THAT’S THE PERFECT BALANCE. JESUS SAID THAT HE CAME TO FULFIL THE LAW, NOT TO WIPE IT AWAY. KEEP IT, BUT PROTECT YOUR MIND FROM THAT PRIDE, THAT I AM THE ONE WHO KEPT MYSELF. DON’T LET IT GET INTO YOUR HEAD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THE ONE OBEYING GOD, RATHER, HIS GRACE KEPT YOU.
AND DON’T SAY IT’S HIS GRACE, THEN YOU ABANDON YOUR QUIET TIME AND START SLEEPING. IT’S GRACE THAT KEEPS ME NOT ALL THESE QUIET TIME OR ANYTHING. GOD! I WANT TO SLEEP TODAY. LET YOUR GRACE COVER ME! NO!
GRACE ONLY HELPS YOU TO DO YOUR QUIET TIME BETTER AND CONSISTENTLY, NOT CANCEL IT. THAT’S THE BALANCE”.
“Wow! Thanks alot Daddy!”
“CALL MY NAME IN FULL!”
“Sorry sir! Thanks alot my Sweet, delicious, sweeter than honey Daddy!”
“WOW! I’M SO EXCITED DARLING! ANYWAY, WE HAVE TO STOP HERE! YOU WOULD BE LATE FOR WORK!”
“Stop what? Which work? I’m not going anywhere oooo! You said you had two things to teach me. One had just been completed, the other one is in the book of the Songs of Solomon. Come and continue”.
“WE HAVE TO START TOMORROW!”
“Daddy! I’m not going anywhere oooo! Is it not my company?” I can chose to go and not go”.
“I KNOW, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO! DON’T BE MORE SPIRITUAL THAN ME!”
I grinned and went down on my knees, thanking him for the revelation of his word.
To be continued…….
Brethren, that’s the balance.
Alot of people have turned the grace of God to lasciviousness (Lustful desires)
They have taken it to mean something entirely different. The Grace of God came to help us do what the law could not do, because of the weakness of the flesh.
Please keep stoning me with your prayers. The way the inspiration is flowing these days is an absolute miracle. At times, most of what I type as an episode was never planned. It just came as I started typing with my phone.
Don’t stop praying for me.
How many of you have been in studying your bible and God would be the one telling you,
“E don do! No go late for work!”
