Experiencing Grace

A college student-athlete received permission to leave the field early one afternoon so he could have some uninterrupted study time just before his final exam.

When he arrived to class, everyone was doing their last-minute study preparation. The professor came in and said he would review with all the students for a period of time before the final.

They went through the review, with most of it being on the study guide; however, there were some things the professor was reviewing that the students had never heard of.

When questioned about it, the professor said that all the answers were in the book and all the students were responsible for everything in the book. None of the students argued that point.

Finally, it was time to take the final.

The professor instructed:

“Leave the test face down on the desk until everyone has their copy, and I’ll tell you when to start.”

When all the students turned them over at the same time, every answer on the test was filled in!

The bottom of the last page said the following:

“This is the end of the Final Exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will receive an ‘A.’ The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get the A. You have just experienced…Grace!”

The professor then went around the room and asked each student individually, “What is your grade?

Do you deserve the grade you are receiving?

How much did all your studying for this exam help you achieve your final grade?”

One student said, “I am not a crier by any stretch of the imagination, but I had to fight back tears when answering those questions and thinking about how the Creator has passed the test for me.”

The professor then said:

“I have tried to teach each of you all semester that every day you are a recipient of grace. I’ve tried to communicate to you that you need to demonstrate this gift of grace as you encounter people in your life. Don’t hammer them; they are not the enemy. Help them, for they will pass it on to others if it is full of GRACE!”

Listen Closely—

In the same way, you didn’t earn God’s grace. You couldn’t. That’s the whole point.

God’s grace isn’t a prize for good behavior or a reward you can work toward—it’s a gift, freely given, because of how deeply He loves you.

There’s nothing to prove, no score to keep, and no way to boast about earning God’s grace on your own merit.

All that’s asked of you is to believe and to reach out by faith and accept what’s already being offered. Not to strive for it. Not to earn it. But to take hold of what God’s unconditional love has already provided you.

Undeserved. Unearned. Unmerited. But freely given grace—simply because He loves you.

That’s The Amazing Grace of God!