A Look At God's Grace Period
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on God
It’s a good thing that in our local school district libraries where I work, students are given a grace period before the computer starts charging for overdue books, because in the elementary libraries, the parents of students check out books sometimes by the dozen, and then forget to return them back before the due date.
Before the summer break, one student passed the grace period by more than 3 weeks. When she came into the library to return the book and pay the fine, she asked if she could get credit for the grace period and just pay for the days after the grace period.
I told her that once the grace period ends, the total fine penalty on the book is due.
In the New Testament, we learn that God has given us a grace period (2 Peter 3:8). Thankfully, God is withholding His judgment because He does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). But someday, God’s period of grace will suddenly end (1 Corinthians 15:52) and it will be time to “pay the fine” penalty for the wages of sin (Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
In order to prevent us having to pay the fine, we have to acknowledge our sinfulness to God and comply with His conditions of salvation (see examples of conversions article), for if we die without putting on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27), or if our Lord returns and we’ve rejected His mercy and grace, then God’s “grace period” will be over and we will be judged for our sins (Acts 17:30-31).
The cost of that judgment to the recipient will be incalculable (Matthew 16:25-27).
Let’s seriously think about it and then take any necessary action!