During recent readings of the New Testament Epistles and several books of American history I was challenged about the scope of God’s grace being experienced corporately, internationally and through many generations. For instance, when the first generation church was in the throes of her first wave of persecution, Luke records, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all (emphasis mine, Acts 4:32-33). Peter and John had performed the first public miracle after Pentecost and their lives were in jeopardy. The church prayed fervently and grace was experienced corporately.
The Apostle Paul often extended introductory grace greetings to the churches. To the Romans he wrote, "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:7). To the Corinthians he bid farewell with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Corinthians 16:23-24). The whole church is blessed, graced, no one excepted.
Throughout history God’s grace has been manifested, and His grace remains and is active today, if we will reflect and remember the Sovereign’s interventions. The grace of God was expressed internationally when God intervened and brought Egypt’s reign of terror to an end. A small sample of the details surrounding the grace of God’s actions include the salvation of Moses from Pharaoh’s death order. Moses’ encounter with the Almighty at the burning bush is a grace experience much broader than the personal impact on Moses. Daniel’s story and the gracious activity of God in the judges reinforce the truth that grace is broader, more far-reaching and more frequent than personal experience.
In the 1960's the "military-industrial complex" was at a full throttle. President Eisenhower warned the nation in a farewell address that the "Cold War" required huge expenditures of the nation’s budget to make weapons that, if used, could potentially unleash world-ending devastation and contaminate the environment so that human life would not be sustained. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounded the desk with a shoe while debating at the United Nations. The "nuclear clock" was at 11:58 P.M. and many world leaders were in despair and convinced that peace was impossible. Evangelists leveraged the "doom’s day" or "nuclear clock" to warn of the Lord’s coming.
Into the doom’s day environment, grace was extended. A Roman Catholic, President John Kennedy, one for whom God-fearing Evangelicals would not vote, made a speech at American University calling for our Cold War antagonists to sit down and reason together. Hot words and threats were set aside and a non-proliferation treaty was hammered out, a true expression of grace. Fifty years have passed. One may comfortably argue that God’s grace was delivered by a man who had been disqualified by good, well-intentioned people. Grace is too broad to be confined in the narrow limits of human understanding. Maybe Peter’s Spirit-given insight is applicable here, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9
September 11, 2010 angry terrorists made a statement of hate which forever changed the way every person in the world lives today. On that day the Attorney General of the United States was John Ashcroft, a member of the Assemblies of God. I believe Dr. Ashcroft was a gift of grace God appointed to his post for that season in our nation’s history. The complexities of his Senate confirmation hearings, the first-of-its-kind attack, and the mood of our nation all required a special person to serve alongside the President and Congress. The emphasis is not on a man, but on the grace of God extended to a nation and to the world.
One last observation, since "9-11" one of the songs sung during Major League Baseball games, seventh-inning stretches, is America the Beautiful. I note that in each of the four verses a simple prayer is inserted, "America! America! God shed his grace on thee." We are as undeserving of God’s grace as any other nation who has rebelled against God. But, if we keep pleading, keep interceding, keep singing the much-needed appeal for grace, He may hear us and heal our nation.
Come, let us sing a verse together today!
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
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