Hosanna Restoration Church

Let me begin by saying that this is not list of the stages of grace. Rather it is intended to remind us that there is always more to the grace of God. In fact, His grace is sufficient for all things. With that said, let me tell you what the Lord put on my heart this morning as I considered His grace.

God brought to my mind the word stages and then illustrated it with fireworks. All over the world people use fireworks for celebrations, so it could be called a universal picture. From now on, they will always remind me of God’s grace.

My favorite fireworks are the ones that make the big boom as they begin. In fact, the first time I experience one of those up close I was satisfied with the boom! Experience has taught me to look up after the boom, because there is more to come. In fact, if there were not more after the boom, I would consider it a dud (one that did not work properly). It is always exciting to watch as these displays go on and on. The number of stages varies with the type of firework that it is, but quite often, just when you think one is done, it has yet another stage. Often times when I see a really fantastic one I think it must be the grand finale, but when it isn’t I wonder what it the world the finale will be like.

So what does this have to do with grace? Well, our salvation started with a boom! The earth shook as Christ died for our sins. The earth shook as Jesus rose from the dead. The power of His resurrection knocked the guards down and changed the world. In the same way, our personal salvation starts with a boom. Granted some people who expect to be knocked off their feet may feel like it was more of a fizzle, but in truth, the grace that forgives and saves us in an explosion in the spiritual realm. It shakes hell to its core and starts an explosion of praise in heaven.

If we are wise, we search for the next stage. If we don’t, we become as one who hears the boom on the firework and never looks up to see the next stage. People who do not look for the next stage often wither in their faith and fall away. Some who experience the boom are robbed by others who have been deceived into thinking that there is just a boom and then we wait until Christ returns for the grand finale with nothing in between. For them it is as though there never was a boom. They simply experienced a religious fizzle. At first they had some anticipation when the fuse was lit, but then nothing really went off and they accepted that as all there was. To them I say, “Go and find the fuse and relight it!”

Friends that is not all there is. Don’t be satisfied even with a great boom. Look up. There is more and more and more. Peter understood this. He commanded them grow in grace and knowledge. He warned them that they would be on a slippery slope if they did not. Won’t you live expecting another stage and rejoice as the Lord reveals it?