Grace and Mercy

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:15-19 ESV). There is a difference between grace and mercy. Hall of Fame baseball manager Sparky Anderson once said, “Grace is getting something good we don’t deserve, and mercy is not getting something bad we do deserve.” The psalmist asks the clear question, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (v. 3). Have you ever thought seriously about getting what you truly deserve? Our human nature drives us to find whatever loophole might exist so that we can avoid the consequences of our actions. We have a limitless capacity for rationalization, so we’re likely to go easy on ourselves in assessing our level of blame. But even at that, we cannot escape our guilt. We know in our hearts we have done those things we ought not to have done, and left undone those things we ought to have done. When it comes to God’s absolute standard of purity, holiness, and obedience, there can be only one verdict: we are guilty. Louis Palau cites a wonderful example of mercy from the courts of Napoleon. It is said that a mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. “But I don't ask for justice,” the mother explained. "I plead for mercy.” "But your son does not deserve mercy,? Napoleon replied. "Sir,” the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” "Well, then,” the emperor said, "I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman's son. I have found our culture has lost the ability to understand both our guilt as well as the true definition of mercy. So many people today have come to believe their entitled status. They believe they are entitled to what is “fair.” The problem with that is our definition of “fair.” The truth is we are all guilty before God and “fair” is a sentence of death. Thankfully, when we are united to Christ through faith God sees not our sin and guilt but his atoning and redemptive love. Taken by itself, reliance on God’s mercy is a source of unspeakable comfort. When combined with gratitude for his grace, it becomes a source of inexhaustible praise.