Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
There is a Bible verse that needs to be studied with special attention: "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).
Here is the gospel in clarity: Every blessing the world has ever known comes through that "grace of our Lord." Never suggest that such grace comes only to those who deserve it! And don't suggest that only a little grace comes to those who don't deserve it! All of the grace of Christ is given to all people, even those who don't deserve it--which really means, no one deserves it.
A wise writer said that God has encircled the world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air we breathe (Steps to Christ, p. 68). That means everybody breathes it as surely as he takes his next breath. In 2 Corinthians 6:1 Paul begs us not to receive that grace "in vain." In other words, everyone receives it; but only a few appreciate it and say "Thank You!"
Christ was once "rich," but He made Himself to be poor. That doesn't mean that He temporarily laid aside His wealth, like a millionaire who has emptied his pockets temporarily and can't buy a newspaper. It was for eternity that Christ emptied His heavenly savings account. He became so "poor" that on the cross "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21).
All this so we could "become rich"--but not in the far distant future. The wealth of heaven is deposited as a credit in your account. You can write a check on all of it. "Then why don't I possess it now?" you ask. Because you could never enjoy its possession until first you share the experience of Moses who "esteem[ed] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Heb. 11:26).
There's a new song you have to learn to sing: "The song of Moses, ... and the song of the Lamb" (Rev. 15:3). But while you learn to sing it, that full credit is in your name. It's time to be happy--and thankful.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 23, 1998.
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