Articles
Grace vs Potholes
Nowhere in the Bible do we have the exact words, “there were no weeds in the garden of Eden”. But we get that impression, because God had everything in the garden perfect from what we know. Then we read in Genesis 3:17-18, that God cursed the ground and said of it, “It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”
There are a lot of things in life that I truly don’t understand. Two of them are weeds and potholes. I know everything in God’s creation has a purpose. But I don’t understand the purpose for weeds and potholes.
I can only speak for myself, but it seems that just when I think I have my lawn all free of weeds, it rains and I get a new crop. I also see new roads, and wonder why potholes just show up? Now I understand physically why potholes show up, I just don’t understand why it has to be that way, why can’t the street just stay smooth? I also know weeds are green plants and help produce oxygen and support other aspects of the ecosystem, but why can’t that happen with some plant besides a thorny ugly smelly weed? Why can’t my lawn just have grass?
Why can’t my life just be free from temptation and sin? Why can’t I just live perfect and make God happy? Why do so many spiritual weeds and potholes make the road of my life so rough and ugly? In a physical sense, why do we have to face disease and illnesses? Why are people maimed and killed in accidents? Why do we have to grow old, and why do we eventually have to die? Yes, it’s all part of a bigger picture, yet we have to deal with it on a daily basis.
With regards to death, Paul tells Christians that we don’t need to worry about it, that our death is not the end of us, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV.
Paul also in 2 Cor 9, talks about the indescribable gift of God’s grace, to supply not only our spiritual needs but our physical necessities. So even though we must deal with the undesirable aspects in life, God sees to it that we are taken care of. Regarding this grace, Paul says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV
So in the meanwhile, we will continue to pull weeds and patch potholes, while we wait for the imperfect to become perfection. God will take care of us and our promise of victory will be realized in due time. Thanks be to God!
