THE grace of God is very wonderful. There is nothing human that bears a real resemblance to it. If we would know what the grace of God means, we must learn from the scriptures, and riot from a dictionary. And its character is such that it cannot be adequately illustrated by analogy.
I remember hearing an anecdote intended to spew what the grace of God is, which I will repeat as well as I can remember it, because it so excellently illustrates what the grace of God is not.
A royal personage happened on one occasion to be on board a ship which contained several prisoners. These prisoners were seamen in the Royal Navy, and were guilty of mutiny. The prince, hearing of them, desired to see them. While speaking to them he particularly observed one of the number, who was a bright, good-looking young fellow, on whom he took compassion. Eventually, through the influence of the prince, this young sailor obtained a pardon, and was reinstated in his former position in the Navy.
Now, this is a touching instance of human kindness, but it nevertheless comes far short of the grace of God. Indeed, it does not even touch it. Had the good prince chosen the oldest, most evil-looking, most hardened and hopeless of the criminals, and done for him as he did for the young sailor to whom he took a fancy, it would have been more like the grace of God.
For, mark it well, reader, it was our moral ugliness that drew out the gracious, pitying love of God. He does not act in grace because there is something attractive in us, but on the contrary, the greater the ruin the deeper the grace. It was when we were sinners Christ died for us. It was at the cross, where man crucified the Lord of glory that man's sin abounded, and it was just there that God's grace super abounded; for by that death God made a way of life for every one that believes on Him.
There is a beautiful expression only to be found in God's word, namely, "the election of grace." I do not find this amongst men. I find election according to merit. If I desire to be chosen for a certain post, I must make myself fit and compete with others. A master never selects the very worst man he can find. God often does. This is election of grace." God chooses the worst. The robber on the cross was one. Paul was another, calling himself the chief of sinners, and so magnifying the grace of God that could save even him.
Do you feel, reader, that you are not morally ugly, and that you have something about you that God should appreciate? If so, compare yourself with the perfect Man, Christ Jesus, Who is the only One with Whom God has been well pleased. Remember that your own self-righteousness is worse than your sins in God's sight. He likens your sins to a garment, but your righteousnesses to filthy rags. If you are standing on the stilts of good works, you have no claim on God's grace, and will only stride the surer down to everlasting destruction. But take the place of being weak and worthless before God, and He will not only save you from the consequences of your sins, but all the love of His heart and the treasures of His house will be yours throughout eternity.