BETTER THAN WE DESERVE

One of my best buddies ever was Sam. A science teacher, he was kind and understanding. Also a teacher of adults in computer skills, he was unmatched. But he could zing you with one line and perhaps his favorite occurred on the golf course.

I don't think the expression was born on this shot, but he used it early and often. On an approach shot to a par five, I hit a terrible slice that veered way right, struck some concrete slabs that had once been tile for a ditch or cart path and careened onto the green. Naturally Sam was there with the line, "That's better than you deserved." He had just the right amount of sarcasm in his tone that made you feel guilty about your good fortune.

But God does that to us all the time. And without the sarcasm. He gives us better than we could ever deserve or earn on our own. Praise God for that, for no one should want what we deserve. What we deserve is death or separation from God because of our inherent sinful nature, "for there is no one who does not sin". (I Kgs 8:46)

In fact in Psalm 103:10 we're told "God does not treat us as our sins deserve," so scripture hits close to the mark in this verse. Ironically, and just the opposite, sin by its definition means to miss the mark. To fall short of the perfect standard of God. God simply cannot tolerate sin. And He doesn't have to. He's God. But what a perfect plan to allow His Son to sacrifice His life to cover or cancel our sins--past, present, and future.

I accepted the gift bounce that my golf ball got. That is, I didn't go back to the concrete and drop my ball and play my fourth shot from there. I accepted the lucky bounce and putted my fourth shot from the green. I accepted God's gift of salvation and received from Him, not what I deserved, but what He freely offered. My prayer is that you accept the gift of salvation, too. It makes all the difference.