If/Then Jesus: Grace 101

An If – Then Jesus

If I put the baby to bed too early, then I will have to get up too early.

And, if the toddlers take a nap in the car, then I will have to start eating cheezits by 3 pm.

Goodness, if I don’t put the laundry away as soon as it is folded, then it will sit on the table until Sunday lunch.

Certainly, if the laundry is still on the table for Sunday lunch, then it will get dumped in the laundry basket and rewashed and refolded and not put away – again.

Heaven knows, if I eat that piece of pie, then I will give up all hope and lose another week of not losing and just vow to start over on Monday, and follow the pie with Cheezits.

Truth be told, if I don’t step onto the elliptical right now, then I will meet with a new level of self-loathing that will encourage the consumption of more pie and Cheezits.

And I am sure, if I sit down to watch tv with the toddlers, then I will lose brain cells and portions of my life I can never regain… watching Color Crew.

Good grief, if the student aid worker at the manbabies’ college puts me on hold one more time, then  I will unleash the hounds and we will be banned from my Alma Mater.

I pause, if I don’t cook dinner, then we will have to have Cheezits and grilled cheese again for dinner for the third time this week.

And, if we have Cheezits and grilled cheese for dinner again this week, then Justin will probably want a divorce.

Sigh, if Justin and I get a divorce, then I will give him full custody of the kids.

Honestly, if Justin gets full custody of the children, then I will probably just have Cheezits and grilled cheese for dinner for the rest of my life – and also, pie – probably for breakfast and lunch.

Furthermore, I use consequences in nearly every single one of my daily communications.

For example,  if I have to see you naked one more time today, then I will have to dig my eyes out with a spoon. Or if you don’t stop putting cheese whiz in the return air vents, then I will have to kick your lung out. And, if you don’t stop eating the cat’s food, then you are going to lose your computer privileges. Steeped in an if/then lifestyle it is hard for me to fathom a God unaffected by my actions.

[bctt tweet=”My entire life is based on the consequential, the if/then Jesus.” quote=”My entire life is based on the consequential, the if/then Jesus.”]

The realization that since Jesus’ death on Calvary He sees me as blameless and whole makes no sense.

It is beyond the scope of my brain. It is too good to be true. And while some would argue, if you believe in the Grace Gospel, then you will just go and do whatever you want and be steeped in sin and filth all your life… disparaging the work of the Cross; this is an out and out lie.

Those that know the true meaning of Grace are set apart and set free.

If Jesus died so I could live, then I am grateful to the point of weeping, I don’t want to take advantage of this remarkable blessing.  We also understand we must think outside of the if/then box.

By no means do I want the bloody work of the Cross to simply be a license to continue my wretchedness.  If He did this remarkable thing, then I must believe He can renew my mind.

However, for the majority of my faith journey, I have believed in an if/then Jesus.  Dr. Andrew Farley calls him the “swivel chair Jesus.” His back to me when He is displeased, and then He swivels back when I am “good.”

If I get up and have my quiet time, then Jesus will bless me.

And, if I pray really hard, then Jesus will hear me.

Surely, if I fast, then God will have mercy on me.

And goodness knows, if we don’t go to church, then God will be furious.

Certainly, if we go to church, then God will sanctify us.

If I continue to mess up, then I might get sick, or one of my children will suffer.

Nothing can ever be “good” enough. That is why He died. So, if He was the perfect sacrifice, then I must only believe the Blood worked.  And, if I believe, then I am free; free from sin and condemnation. I remember the promise, if I am free, then He dwells in me.  Truly, if He dwells in me, then I want what He wants.  And, if I want what He wants, then I walk the sanctified path of love, peace, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I have proved the Law as empty. The truth is, if the Law had worked, then we wouldn’t have needed a Savior.

The Law and yoke of our slavery to the Law separated us from the Living God.  And God wanted us – He wanted a relationship with us – so He sent someone to save us from the Law, someone to fulfill the Law.

Jesus.

And if Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, then the Law is no more.

Now, if the Law is no more, then we are free to come before the Father.

Joyfully I celebrate, if we were once apart from Him, then we are now in communion with Him.

If I believe, then it is done.

And if it is done, then…

It is well.

May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained.  Love, Jami

Proverbs 3:5-6 “If you trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. then listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

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