It’s hard to ignore. It’s all over the news and social media. The biggest public mistake of the season: Steve Harvey’s erroneous announcement of the winner in the just concluded Miss Universe beauty pageant.
No one wants to be in Mr. Harvey’s shoes right now. To his credit, he owned up to his mistake. From the moment the error was discovered he took full responsibility and did so publicly. Yet, just the personal burden of knowing that he made a serious mistake before the whole world is quite a load to bear. Add to that the recognition that his mistake will be the talk of people, both in private and in the public arena. He surely will be the butt of jokes for days and weeks to come, maybe even longer. What about its effect on his career as a host or entertainer?
Encouraging, of course, is the outpouring of grace toward this “fallen” entertainer. Despite the criticisms and not so kind comments about him, so many have expressed their support for one whose offense was an honest and unintentional mistake. And extending grace, I know, is very much in keeping with the real spirit of the season.
The apostle John describes the coming of the Messiah: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1.16 ESV). This translation understands the phrase “grace upon grace” as expressing “the perpetual and rapid succession of blessings, as though there were no interval between the arrival of one blessing and the receipt of the next” (M. Harris). The picture of God’s gracious actions is something like the constant crashing of ocean waves against the seashore, one after the other. God’s grace toward us is constant and unceasing. And the coming of the Christ, celebrated this Christmas season, is the highest expression (the biggest wave, if you may) of that grace.
What makes God’s grace awesome is that it is extended even to those whose offenses are numerous and many times far from unintentional. Our offenses are often not just mistakes, but conscious acts of sin and rebellion against the holy God. Yet he gives us grace … again, and again, and again. God’s grace is greater than our sin. While we were his enemies, Christ died for our sakes (Romans 5.8). It is only by God’s grace that any one can be restored to a right relationship with God (Ephesians 2.8-9). And when we falter and fail him, he still offers us a way back to himself (1 John 1.9-2.2).
Grace upon grace. How can I have anything else but gratitude toward such a gracious God? How can I not bow down and worship him? How can I not devote myself to follow him and seek to become like him?
—Keith Y. Jainga