You...you...you...and you

So i've had this picture/thought running through my mind over the past week. It's something that one of my good friends shared with me last week, he was told it by a pastor up in the seattle area. My friend asked this pastor something like: "What are your views regarding Calvinism and Arminianism?" This is what the pastor said:

"I see it this way: All of mankind is in darkness and locked up in their own personal jail cell. Then, God appears and opens up their cells and speaks out to them saying that they can come to Him and be with Him. Mankind replies with a thanks but no thanks attitude, and lets God know that they prefer it in their dark jail cells alone. So, mankind locks themselves back up in their cells. Then God proceeds to say (while pointing with his finger) "Ok, You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you" and so on..."

This to me is such an amazing picture of the grace of God, and I love it! This picture of grace (or what Paul Zahl would call "One Way Love") has just been messin' with me through this past week of daily struggles/temptations. Paul's words in Romans have almost never been so clear to me since this past week and since hearing this picture:

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:24

The reality is: Is that I would rather be locked up in my jail cell, it's my human nature...to sin and fall short of the glory of God. But I cry out, "WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?" I desire to be with God, but i can't do that on my own because I don't want to change, who will save me from myself? The truth is that I have been free'd by the Grace Jesus Christ showed me through enduring the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. God has apointed me to salvation and it's only by His grace that i can be with Him. It's only by his finger being pointed at me and his voice saying "You! Grant Blomdahl! Step forth from your prison cell and be free!" that I can be with Him. All I can think to say is..."Why? Why me Lord? I don't deserve this love, i deserve shackles and a cold dark prison cell, I have so many weaknesses." Then, the Lord reminds me... "My grace is sufficient!" Wow, may the power of Christ rest on me!!! (As Paul said in 2nd Cor. 12:9)

I guess what i'm trying to say, is that it's so amazing how God calls me to be with Him and that He even still loves me despite the fact that I have chosen to turn away from Him so many times. It's only for the fact that He has shown grace to me that I am with Him. Wow, what a God we serve, glory to Him! Jesus Christ made fellowship with the Father possible, and the Father has called me out of my prison cell of darkness. I am at a loss for words.

Praise be to God! Thank you for opening my eyes to the wonders of your enternal kingdom! Continue to show me your grace, love, and glory...till I see you face to face.