One thing that the Way of Jesus Christ has taught me is that we are accepted by God not because of what we do, or fail to do, but because of who God is. And what God gives to us, from God’s very being is not a static thing. It is the transformation of our whole selves.
We are transformed by God’s grace for God’s purpose, not just to make our lives happier, more successful, or more enjoyable. We are transformed by grace so that we can join God’s ongoing work of creation; to struggle for the sake of the poor, the sick, the rejected, the marginalized. That we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us.
We are transformed by God’s grace for a purpose, not just to strive for what is fair. I believe that we are to work for the sake of the poor, even if it costs us. Even if it is unfair. Not to work for justice only. To work for a grace-filled, godly response to the poor and hungry. On the Last Day, Christ will not ask us if we balanced the Federal budget. Christ will ask if we fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, and cared for the weak.
Moving from fairness to grace is not easy. It means that we must change. God gives himself to us, so we can know and love God. This relationship changes us. We are no longer simply related to God as creatures to our creator. We are more than that. We are forgiven, therefore accepted. And if accepted by God, then we become joined to God. And if joined to God, then called to do the works of God. Not in order to earn God’s favor, which is ours already, but because we have been transformed by God’s grace. To love things heavenly, to hold fast to those things that shall endure. So that we may see heaven all around us.
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