Grace Is Free But Never Cheap

25 There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lordlike Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols . . .                – 1Kings 21:25-26

Typically, things do not bode well for those who are described in such a way as Ahab, especially in the Old Testament. After the evil acts of both him and his wife Jezebel, God declared their death in the harshest of terms. People would remember their punishment.

Yet, even in the OT God can have a redemptive change of mind:

27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days – 1Kings 21:27-29

I want to understand true repentance. Guilt comes rather standard to the human form, yet repentance is different. It is a true mourning over the choices we make. It surpasses guilt to hit something deeper; something darker. I fear many of us settle for cheap forgiveness. We so easily point to the cross and claim we are forgiven only to turn and run to the same sin that made the cross a necessity. We act as sin is some sort of inevitability. We soften its soul defying chaos and never truly repent to the point of broken heartedness.

We must let sin break us. As followers of a slain God, we must take care not to dismiss such a violent act that seeks to pull us from the Father’s grasp. Your enemy is closer than you think. It wishes to destroy you through compromise and apathy. While grace is free, it is never cheap.

Today, examine your heart. Accept the forgiveness and grace of God which He freely gives to all.