One day last summer, I stood in my backyard mindlessly watering my geraniums when I felt something resembling a hot poker touch my foot. A quick glance revealed the dreaded Texas enemy, fire ants. After a great deal of screaming, brushing off, and hopping around, I quickly found a new place to stand.
I thought of this incident today as I read Rom. 5:1-2, "Therefore, we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."
It's important to know just exactly where we are standing. If we are born again, we are standing in grace! Before we met Christ we were standing in the enemy's territory. It might as well have been a bed of fire ants, because we were vulnerable there to his assault and his plan for us which was, and always has been, to kill, steal, and destroy. Romans tells us that Jesus provided access for us into a whole new place to stand.
As believers, an unfolding revelation of this 'grace land' in which we now stand, is one of the joys of discovery that Father has set before us. Imagine receiving a letter from a wealthy king inviting you to come and live with him in his kingdom. With a welcoming smile and a enveloping hug, he welcomes you in with a beautiful robe, sandals, and a ring. He tells you that everything he has is yours to enjoy. You have access to every part of the castle, grounds, and resources. You enjoy long walks with the king and hearing the plans on his heart. He asks you about the dreams on your heart and even tells you to "ask, and it shall be given to you".
If this all sounds vaguely familiar, it's because it is the reality in which we now stand. If you're like me, you probably feel as if you don't deserve such favor, and we don't. We didn't do, and can't do, a single thing to earn our way into this grace land. It's been paid for, and we've been given an access code. It's a five letter word called 'faith'. Our faith is placed solidly in Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for not only our sins, but the sins of all mankind. We are tempted to believe that it's too good to be true. But, no! It is true and it is good news! Very, very good news!
Sometimes it's so easy to only see through our natural eyes this realm in which we live every day, but we have been given eyes that can see the Kingdom according to John 3:3. Refuse to settle for the level of revelation that you are walking in today, and press in for greater sight, clarity and understanding. Stir up the expectation within you that there is more. We access the riches of His kingdom through the revelation given to us. We will not look for more if we don't believe there is more.
Try asking the King to show you the grace in which you now stand. Prepare to be amazed.
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Eph. 1:17-19
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