Chuck Larsen

I’ve been accused of preaching “easy believism.” That’s a term used to discredit those who argue for salvation by faith alone, apart from works. Believing in Christ only opens the door to the possibility of salvation which must be fleshed out by good works! I say “nonsense!” The key doctrine of the reformation and of Paul’s theology is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. By the way, the longer I’ve lived as a Christian the more certain I’ve become that there is nothing “easy” about trusting in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation. Actually, there are times in my life where such faith contradicted everything I saw happening in my life and in the lives of others. I’ve always argued that saving faith is not believing that God exists. Satan does that! No, it’s trusting God to have my best interest foremost in mind regardless of the circumstances and very often in spite of the circumstances. I think this is the lesson that Mary learned in John chapter 11.

You know the story. Lazarus was sick. They send a messenger to fetch Jesus. Jesus sends the messenger back to Bethany telling Mary and Martha not to worry, Lazarus isn’t going to die! It appears from the flow of the events in the story that Lazarus dies before or shortly after the messenger returns with the promise that the sickness would not result in Lazarus’ death. There’s Mary and Martha with the obvious fact of Lazarus’ death in contrast to the promise from Jesus that he wouldn’t die! For all practical purposes, Jesus’ promise failed! Doesn’t it seem that way sometimes? So they wrap Lazarus in burial clothes and bury him as was the practice. Then they had to deal with the issue. Can I really trust God’s promises? Can I put my destiny in the hands of someone who’s promise failed? This is where we find often find ourselves.

Jesus stayed away for a couple days to make sure the burial took place and that Lazarus had time to stink before he made his way to Bethany. He didn’t want there to be any doubt about what was going to happen. Before making his way to Bethany, he told his disciples Lazarus had died and in John 11:15 said, “I’m glad, for your sake, I wasn’t here when it happened.” How could Jesus’ absence at a time he was most needed be a “good thing” for those involved? I’m convinced that it offered Mary and Martha the opportunity to wrestle with “easy believism.” It really isn’t all that easy to trust God in all of life’s circumstances, is it? God choreographs each of our unique lives and daily situations in the way we need it most to learn that we can trust Him no matter what happens! He may let the trials linger, but eventually, all things do indeed work together for good for those who trust God.  Jesus has been away for a while now and there is nothing easy about trusting His promises. But I’m persuaded one day we’ll all hear, “Lazarus, Come forth!”

Grace is one of the most important concepts of Christianity. It’s not just the Grace of salvation I’m talking about. It’s the Grace that comes to us in a wide variety of ways every day of our lives. It’s an overflowing fountain of refreshment that never stops flowing. John tells us in the first chapter of his Gospel that “Jesus was full of Grace.” He goes on in Verse 16 to add, “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” A look at some other translations may help us understand this. They say, “Grace upon grace,” “grace following grace,” or “grace heaped up upon grace.” What John is trying to tell us is that God’s grace just keeps flowing over and over. It’s the picture of waves of refreshing water in a sweltering dessert wilderness that John’s image calls to mind. John is the one who speaks to us of “living water” and Jesus is the one who offers it to those dying of thirst. Grace is the life refreshment in the deepest times of need.

Grace is such a marvelous thing. When Martin Luther was writing about this concept of “grace upon grace” he compared it to a spring of living water. He writes, “This spring is inexhaustible, it is full of grace and truth from God, it never loses anything, no matter how much we draw, but remains an infinite fountain of all grace and truth; the more you draw from it, the more abundantly it gives of the water that springs into eternal life. Just as the Sun is not darkened by the whole world enjoying its light, and could indeed, light up ten worlds; just as 100,000 lights might be lit from one light and not detract from it; just as a learned man is able to make a thousand others learned, and the more he gives, the more he has—so is Christ our Lord, an infinite source of all grace, so that if the whole world would draw enough grace and truth from it to make the world all angels, yet it would not lose a drop; the fountain always runs over, full of grace.”

C.S. Lewis captures the world before sin in his science fiction novel “Perelandra.” In this world there is a golden canopy. Underneath the canopy is an emerald sea. Gold and green make a beautiful combination. But then he adds, floating upon the emerald sea are pink islands! The islands moved upon the sea and a person had to develop his sea legs before he could walk on them. The Island was forested with incredible trees. He called them “Bubble Trees.” The bubbles hung like fruit from the trees and when a person walked under the trees, the bubbles would burst and the passers-by would be dowsed with indescribable refreshment. This pictures God’s Grace – indescribable refreshment!