Pressure comes in many forms; anger, fear, apathy, pain, loss, disconnection, change and a multitude of other issues. These factors change who we are. Things that happen to us on the outside affect us on the inside, sometimes scarring for life. We cannot analyze every minute of our life to fix things. We are constantly trying to internalize information, data, and experiences to adept. We don’t have to go aimlessly or mindlessly through life’s events without choices and decision-making processes. We can learn from our mistakes; just “don’t go there” and “don’t do that” anymore. Control your will-power. Make no mistake about it, mistakes are forgiven. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:11 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more”. Isaiah 43:25 Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart. With God's help we can accept Christ's forgiveness and reject sin.
Everyone the world over understands pressure. From money lenders squeezing the helpless with high interest to the haves dangling life’s essentials over the have-nots. It’s not pretty, but in some bizarre twisted tortured way, people have found a way to survive, even thrive. If there wasn’t any pressure, those lumps of coal would never turn into diamonds. Without pressure, some people wouldn’t know what they could and couldn’t do in life. Those who become quadriplegics, those who lose their sight, those who lose a child, those who lose everything to a fire, those who get Alzheimer’s disease, and countless others who suffer in the extreme, discover the grace of God in ways others can only wish for.
God’s grace is free to everyone, but the pain that life distributes unevenly, allows some people an opportunity to obtain an extra helping. If you want the abundant grace that these people are clothed in, all you have to do is pray that God will send a blue ribbon calamity to you personally. What - you’d like the abundant merciful grace without the pain and heartache? Anyone can obtain this abundant grace but please be mindful that this grace is not cheap. The Old Testament didn’t display very much grace. Why you ask? The Gospel of John tells us, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
The Old Testament Law was a stern taskmaster. It was not kind and generous and forgiving - it was harsh and the penalty for crossing the wrong line could prove deadly. Civilization was slowly moving towards extinction before Christ came. The pressure people felt from the religious rules and constrictions was turning people away from God. Instead of seeing God’s mercy, many were only seeing and remembering God’s stern side. When Jesus came he dialed down the pressure people were under and told them what God was really like and lived out the example daily. Becoming a “Christ-like” person pushed the Law into the background where it was soon replaced. A dispensation of grace eased the pressure. Thank God, He did it.
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