Newton’s first law of motion applies to our lives. If we are moving in a particular direction, we are going to continue in that same direction unless an outside force redirects us. If we are going to make a change in our lives, we need a power beyond ourselves. We need the grace of God.
We need grace even to know that we need to change. Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Ignorance may be an excuse, but it also prevents us from changing. The theologians call it “conviction.” Only after we see our sin can we know that we need to change. Grace helps us see that need.
We need grace no matter who we are. It might feel as if only the spectacular sinners, the people whose transgressions are legendary, need grace. The rest of us may feel like we should be able to fix our own lives. The reality is that all of us, no matter who we are, no matter how shocking our lives, no matter how boring our lives, stand in need of grace.
We need grace our whole life long. We not only walk the Damascus Road one time, we live there. We might like to think that we need grace when our lives fall apart and once we have things together we can take over once again. The truth is that we will always need the grace of God.
Sometimes, when people say they do not believe in God, the real issue is not that they don’t believe. The real issue is that they don’t want to confess their dependence on a power beyond themselves. The real issue is not skepticism but pride. Don’t be prideful. Accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Accept that you need to change. Accept that you need grace to change. It’s why Jesus came into the world. To give us grace. To save sinners. To change us into the people God made us to be.