Ferrari Grace
So, then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 NASB
Law – I live on Thoroughbred Lane, but the only horses I have ever had are the ones packed into the back of fine examples of human engineering like this Ferrari 512TR that used to grace my garage. You might wonder why I still keep this picture. It’s not because I regret the absence of this beauty. It is because this picture tells me about the difference between Law and Grace.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us. We didn’t deserve His benevolence. We didn’t earn it or inherit it. He simply determined to commit Himself to us and show us kindness. It’s like opening your garage door and discovering that there’s a Ferrari sitting there. A gift. Totally unexpected. Magnificent. Thrilling.
Ah, but there’s one small problem. A Ferrari in the garage doesn’t do anything for you. A Ferrari is meant to drive! And for that, you need the keys and driving instructions. The gift is wonderful, but it was never designed to just sit as a dormant possession in your life. It was designed to get up and go – very fast. So, unless you just want trophy grace, you will need to know how to use God’s gift. That means you need instructions about living with grace.
When this Ferrari sat in my garage, I could admire its lines, look at the engine, sit in the leather seat. But I never experienced what this car was intended to do until I took it to the race track and sat next to a professional driver as he negotiated this beauty through 90 degree hairpin turns at 100 miles per hour. That’s when the car came alive. It’s exactly the same with the Law (Torah). God’s benevolence can sit in your garage, passively waiting to be put to use. You can admire its beauty. You can enjoy its presence. You can even taste its goodness. But God’s grace is designed to be used, and for that you need to know what it’s like to race with grace at 100 miles an hour. You need to sit behind the wheel and feel the power. You need to negotiate the turns. You need to put your foot to the floor and know the roar. To put grace to use, you need Torah.
Imagine trying the drive a Ferrari without any instructions. I can guarantee you that this kind of car doesn’t drive like civilized vehicles. You will either crash or you will not feel the thrill of being on the edge. Most of us attempt to use God’s grace without ever taking a driver’s course. We think that we can make up the rules as we go along. But Torah is specifically designed to tell us how to get the maximum benefit from God’s gift. Torah is the driver’s instruction manual for the greatest engine ever put into human hands. Torah is not opposed to grace. It is the complement to grace. It is grace at full throttle.
Paul knew that the Law (Torah) was designed to help us get the most out of God’s grace. Paul practiced what he preached. He knew how to drive. You and I have God’s Ferrari sitting in the garage. Do you know how to drive it according to the manufacturer’s design, or are you trying to use Toyota techniques on God’s racing machine?
Topical Index: Law, grace, Torah, Romans 7:12
From one motor enthusiast to another, I can totally relate. 🙂
(Except I never had the privilege of having one of these in my garage…).
BTW, is that a 328GTS Cabrio sitting under the cover to the right of the TR?
NO, it is a 355 GTS. The 328 is on the left.
Right you are. The rear spoiler is the giveaway (and I had them mixed up). I’ve always loved the shape of the 308/328 – the 355 ain’t bad either. One day I might get to drive one. In the mean time, I can just enjoy the craftsmanship from a distance. Art on wheels. 🙂
No, I didn’t provide a picture of the “ghetto-sled” in front of my house. It would leave all “less than impressed.” I’ve seen a Ferrari or two in my time, but it was at a distance. I’ve never known the thrills and chills of the fast and furious. But my car has wheels that go round and round- all over town, and for this- I’m grateful. Beats walkin’ or riding the bus. I’ve done both. Have you read my new book? – “lifestyles of the poor and insignificant.”
I would feel rather strange driving such a magnificent machine to Walmart to pick up a gallon of milk.
~ But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world ~ (Galatians 6.14)
~ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me ~ (2 Corinthians 12.9) ~ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong ~
Paul,- you’re a strange bird. A peculiar person. “Different”- to say the least.
~ but with humility comes wisdom ~ (Proverbs 11.2)
No-one is insignificant in the kingdom, Carl. And you might also remember this:
So, there you are. Blessed and significant. Shabbat Shalom (or, since Shabbat is finished here, Shavua Tov). 🙂
Ah, now you’re on my favorite subject, grace!
Here is a true story of how God used a horse named Steve to teach a young woman about his wonderful grace –and filled the desire of her heart at the same time. And, btw, the horse learned grace also! (His eye is even on the sparrow)
Don’t know how anyone will be able to resist this testimony/story:
http://www.lastdaysministries.org/Groups/1000087857/Last_Days_Ministries/Articles/Other_Authors/My_Yoke_Is/My_Yoke_Is.aspx
Dorothy,
What a beautiful, moving story! Thank you for sharing it.
…and we all thank Skip for allowing us great and wide freedom of expression on this blog
How would we learn unless we are encouraged to question, listen and examine?
The perfect blend of teaching on grace and the law. A little like Love & Marriage, can’t have one without the other. Thanks for putting it in a way that makes the blend understandable.
SADLY TO SAY THERE ARE MANY MANY MARRIAGES THAT DON’T HAVE LOVE…
Jan, while this may be true, concerning some of our earthly marriages, the “marriage” or blood-covenant union that we have with the Messiah, our Heavenly Boaz is NOT one of these! For He loves all of us (and each of us- yes, love is NOT “zero-sum”) with a love that never dies, nor ever ends! If I am to obey His Torah, His words of instruction,- then I (as a husband) am to love my wife as Christ loved the church- and He loved her enough to die for her,- and beyond!
For while the Ten Words came by Moses- grace and truth came by Yeshua HaMachiach-for He taught us to love one another and to love our neighbors and even (lest we forget) to love our enemies! A great part of love, especially His love- is forgiveness. Forgiveness, for a Christian is one of our chief “weapons” of our daily warfare, one that I’ll say (sadly) we have forgotten, and is greatly neglected. If we learn to forgive one another, to show compassion and mercy- just as He has given unto us- “great grace” will be upon us all, for we will reap the seeds we sow. Small seeds of kindness-love-mercy-compassion-grace- we, according to the Torah of God, His instructions to His sheep for daily living, are to love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Looking back in my 20/20 hindsight- my relationship with Him, my heavenly Bridegroom, began with forgiveness. He said “ask”, I asked for forgiveness and He gave…- fully and freely. This is who I am- “a forgiven sinner”. Ahh- but far more than this, dear sister! For not only am I a forgiven sinner, but I am a feasting son!- sitting at my Father’s Table, though lame in both my feet- (I don’t belong here, except for the grace of my King) and amazed that I have been invited to dine daily with the King’s mighty men! But there is one even greater than David, who will one day give a wedding feast (we all have been issued an invitation to attend- RSVP) that will last, according to His written words- “forever!”
And as one of our teachers has reminded those who are now suffering, ~ For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us ~ (Romans 8.18)
Because of Boaz, her near Kinsman-Redeemer, did Ruth have to worry about gleaning in the corners of the field? (helpful household hint)- her husband owned the very fields in which she was gleaning! She is now married to the Owner! And we, my sweet sister, are now, today in blood-covenant union with the King of kings and LORD of lords- He owns it all!- A greater than Solomon is here- and we belong to Him!
THANK YOU CARL, I AGREE WITH ALL YOU STATED/TYPED ABOVE – BUT WAS THERE SOME REASON THAT WHAT I TYPED ABOUT LOTS OF MARRIAGES WITHOUT LOVE THAT STRUCK A CORD WITH YOU TOWARD ME – I JUST WONDERED WHY YOU WENT INTO ALL THAT YOU DID IN YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT I TYPED???
JUST CURIOS…
JAN
How true, I find myself needing to go back to the instructions all the time because I am always finding something new. Thanks for the insight!