God’s grace and forgiveness is real. He saves us and gives us goodness we don’t deserve. When we are wrong, he gives us time and space to come back and get it right. As his beloved children, we don’t have to live in unsettled fear of what unknown wrong we may be doing and the lightening on it’s way to strike us. Jesus covers us in grace. We don’t earn his favor and love, but it’s offered to us anyway.

But know this, along with the grace of Jesus comes the space to change. And we are expected to change. God’s grace doesn’t give us license to keep doing wrong. Everything we do has a consequence and God doesn’t come in between our choices and the consequences of those choices. Nope. If you crash your car, then your car is crashed. That doesn’t change. If you charge up your credit cards, then you’re in debt. That doesn’t change. If you never wash the dishes, then you have dirty dishes. That doesn’t change.

Where is God asking you to change, but you’re delaying because you’ve been getting away with it so far? So far you haven’t gotten caught. So far it hasn’t created disaster. So far there haven’t been any consequences. Please understand, that’s not God just letting you continue in the wrong direction … that’s God’s grace allowing you space to change that. If you don’t, there will be consequences and you won’t like them.

You know how you give a child a countdown to respond appropriately? “Little Johnny, I’m going to count to 3. 1 … 2 …” What’s supposed to happen if you get to 3 and that child has not responded with appropriate action? Consequences. And those consequences are not because all of a sudden you hate that child. No, it’s because the only way they will learn is to experience negative consequences for negative behaviors.

Some of us are walking around on a 2.9997 thinking God will never get to 3. Oh, he will. You’re in your grace period, but grace periods do expire. Just how far are you going to push this?

Jesus told John to write a letter to his people in the town of Thyatira. These were people who were doing great and admirable things, but they were allowing a negative influence in their lives. So, Jesus sends them a letter in their grace period. He says to John, “Write this letter to the angel of the church of Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze.”

Now remember, when Jesus reveals a specific image of him, it’s for a reason. He’s telling them my eyes are like flames of fire because they have power and they see absolutely everything. He draws attention to his feet like polished bronze because they are strong and ready to move in battle. Our Jesus is one who sees and one who is ready to move. He’s not oblivious to what is happening, nor is he unable or unwilling to do anything about it.

Revelation 2: 19-29:

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”

So, good job! You’re doing good and you’re constantly getting even better. Jesus sees that. He honors that. He loves that about you!

“But I have this complaint against you. you are permitting that woman – that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet – to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.”

What’s happening here is an allowed continued negative influence. The people just looked away, made excuses, and allowed it to continue. And as it continued, God’s people became confused and what was wrong became normal.

To the one doing wrong, God gave her time to repent. He started the countdown. 1 … 2 … 2 and a 1/4 … 2 and a 1/2 … 2 and a 2/3 … 2 and a 3/4 … He didn’t want the consequences of her wrong doing to destroy her. He didn’t want her to suffer. He wanted her to change. But she took her grace period and marched right on. So, there are consequences. They’re harsh. It’s painful to read.

“Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly UNLESS they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.”

There’s a popular saying these days, “Girl, go get what you deserve.” Actually, no don’t. I never want what I deserve. I desperately need grace. I need that countdown with time to change and try again. God, please don’t give me what I deserve. Please examine my heart, search my thoughts and intentions and graciously give me a holy conviction on what needs to change with the grace period to do it.

You’re in your grace period. You have not gotten what you deserve, and that’s the best news you’ll receive all day. Now, don’t waste this. When God says he’s counting to 3, he will eventually get to 3, and he will follow through with what he says.

Now, here’s the good news … not everyone in this town was following the bad influence of false teachings, and to them, Jesus has a separate message. He says, “I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. To all who are victorious who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

Jesus knows you can’t change everyone or everything. But, he is expecting you to be in this world and hold tight to the truth and not be influenced by the world. If you don’t have personal boundaries of what is allowed and what isn’t, then the world is going to creep right in and blur your lines and drag you into the chaos. The devil would love nothing more than to weaken your convictions and lull you into a compromised position.

You better hold tight. Hold your lines. Hold your convictions. Hold your commitments. Immorality and ungodliness is all around you – what are you going to do about it? Are you going to allow that influence? Are you going to give in a little? Are you going to ignore that little ping of the Holy Spirit that tells you “this isn’t right”, and just keep on going with your bad self?

Just because you’ve always gotten away with it doesn’t mean you will continue to get away with it. This grace period has an end … and when you’ve used up all that grace you’re left with consequences. You won’t like them. God really doesn’t want them for you. So listen today. 1 … 2 … 2 and 1/2 … what will your response be?

God, please don’t give us what we deserve. We want to hold tight to you and your ways. We want to do what’s right and turn from what’s wrong.

Jesus says if you refuse to fit in with the world and be influenced by all that is wrong, then he has a reward for you. Your reward is the morning star. Do you know what the morning star is? Later in Revelation, Jesus reveals the morning star is HIM. He brings light. He brings hope. When you respond to the changes God is asking you to make in your grace period and you hold tight to his will and way for you, your reward is the hope and light only Jesus can offer!

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