Amazing Grace

 “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”-Jeremiah 31:33

A man got into an accident by which he ran into someone’s car from the back. According to the law, he is definitely at fault in this situation. At this time of global pandemic where he is in an economically challenging situation, he cannot afford to pay for the damage of property of the other guy on top of his. Such situation crippled him as the guy whom the car he ran to came and said this word, “It’s alright. I got this cover. I will pay for the repair job for my car and your car. Just give me your personal details and I will get back to you soon for we are in a way of the traffic.” This story may sounds too good to be true because it is. While I do not deny that such story may have some truth, but in today’s world where our lives revolves around the principle of gain and lose, it is unthinkable that someone would be willing to treat us to such extend.

Such is the befitting analogy to describe God’s grace to the people of Israel and Judah at the time of prophet Jeremiah and also extended or reflected to us up to this day. Long story short, in chapter 31 of the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah proclaimed to the people of Israel and Judah that the day will come for them by which the new covenant will be instituted to them. It is helpful to understand the context that the people of Israel and Judah during the time of Jeremiah already went to exile (Northern kingdom of Israel long defeated by the Assyrian Empire before Babylonian Empire taking over and bring into exile the people of southern kingdom of Judah). During this time, the famous Psalm 137 was written, “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.” Such poignant hymn expressing the desire of the people to be saved and rescued from the utter humiliation having to lose their land and their national identity.

In those period of exile, it creates longing and sadness to the people knowing that there is no certainty of their return to the land. What they need at this time, is hope. Likewise, what we need at the present time is hope for a better tomorrow after this global pandemic. Hope is what keep us going. Hope was greatly needed by the exiled people of Judah. So, when the LORD said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3), that is the sound of hope that they have been waiting for. In light of that, we can make sense of what it means for the LORD to make a new covenant with them in verse 31. The act of covenant sealing is an act of calling for shared responsibilities between two parties. But, not in this case. The LORD will be the Only party that will seal and fulfill the new covenant. That is what we call; grace. Gift given to undeserving sinners like us. Just like the illustration above.

What is so great about this gift anyway? Why do we need it or why do they need it? These are the kind of questions that linger in my mind as I ponder upon today’s text (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Grace can be defined as undeserved acceptance and love received from another. In this text, the act of grace clearly shown by the LORD towards the people of Israel and Judah who both have suffered in results of their disobedience against His first covenant. God is willingly to “forgive their iniquity, and [He] will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). It is quite surprising that the LORD seemingly “go against” His own principle when He once said this, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments…and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them…You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.” (Deuteronomy 7:9-11).

Let me be clear about this one thing; God does not change and He never will (at least He would not go against His on nature). Time and time again I have preach on God’s nature of being just and loving. Often we consider only the loving character of God while dismissing the character of God being just. In the situation with Him and His people (Israel and Judah), He exercise His authority as a judge, applying justice upon them by allowing them to be conquered by other nations and to be removed from the land, thus, fulfilling His promise in Deuteronomy 7:9-11. However, as God did not contradict His own self, here in this verse that we see how God exercising His love by not only giving them another chance, but by making sure that His will will be accomplished. This new covenant will not be broken for there is no possibility of His chosen people to forget it since it will be permanently engraved on their hearts and in their mind.

You may wonder what difference does it makes when God Himself write the laws in their hearts. Huge difference. Previously, they were required to write the laws and bind it on their forearm and on their head as well as writing it on their door post and city gates (Deuteronomy 6:8-9;11:18). And yet, with all that obvious reminders revolves around their lives, so much so that it becomes their national identity, they still manage to disobey the laws and breaks the covenant (Jeremiah 31:32). So, this time the laws will be part of them in a personal level. They may not realize its existence within them, but that laws will always be there to guard their national identity as God’s chosen people, kingdom of priesthood, and holy nation (Exodus 19:6). It may sounds like a violation of personal space by God, but if I were in their shoes, I am not complaining. For God is the One who created us, He is the One who made effort to draw them close even when they consistently chose to walk away, the One who is mercifully forgiving them, yes, this God is whom they need at this time of trouble.

One thing about this new covenant is that, it always been God who initiate it first. That was the case for them during the time of Jeremiah, and that will be the case for us now. The reality for us is that, we were all dead to sin. Sin that we inherited from Adam’s disobedience becomes a thorn in our flesh. So, by that logic, we do not have the capability to do good nor to want to seek God (Romans 3:11-13). God in His own virtue will forgive them once and for all, so much so that they will not remember the taste of the sin (Jeremiah 31:34). The irresistible grace outweigh the irresistible sin. One final mystery to this new covenant is the fact that the Lord does not specifically mentioned when it will be established and fulfilled. But, fast forward to the time of Christ, we know for sure that this new covenant made complete and explicitly declared by Christ to His disciples (John 20:21-23; Luke 22:20). It proves that the Lord will never back away from His promises.

The good news is that, this new covenant is not exclusive to the people of Israel and Judah. This is an open invitation to the restoration of relationship of God and His beloved creation; us. The knowledge that has become the curse that separated us (Genesis 2:17) now become the key to freedom and salvation. The gift of knowledge of God allowing us to be the partaker in this new covenant relationship by which it will not be broken or nullify (Jeremiah 31:34). Everyone will know Him as God (for the knowledge of Him has been planted in our hearts and minds) but, we do have the responsibility to become the catalyst that will invoke the knowledge from individuals. How interesting can that be when we too could take part in this divine salvation process by waking up our fellow brothers, sisters, neighbors from this long-slumber and finally to know Him as our Savior.

So, friends, wake up. Wake up to this knowledge of salvation and know that we are not excluded from this good news. At this challenging time, let it be a reminder to us that God may use this to pique our interest of Him, to make us thirsty and hungry for His love. And as it comes before us, let us together with Christ through His Holy Spirit be the partaker of this divine banquet of amazing grace; an invitation to life eternal with our Heavenly Father. Amen.

Photo credit to Crosswalk.com