I recently got my first pair of progressives (progressive-lens glasses). They tell you not to wear them when you drive or go up and down stairs for a while, because it takes time for your brain to process the new outlook your eyes are giving it. People swerve and fall down, apparently… don’t let it happen to you!

But once your brain adjusts to the benefit of progressives, you realize the world has layers of clarity you may not have noticed in years. The top of the lens brings distant objects into crisp focus, the middle provides clarity for things right in front of you, and the bottom lets you read again without squinting or swapping glasses. Best of all, it happens seamlessly with no lines, no abrupt shifts, and no need to switch back and forth with your other glasses. Just one lens, continuously transitioning from one focal distance to another, giving you what you need - no matter where you look. 

My transition to wearing progressives reminded me that the experience of living daily in “the grace of God in Jesus, for me!” can dull over time. If we’re not careful, our experience and appreciation of grace can leak out of our hearts and minds. It goes something like this,  “Yes, OF COURSE I’m so thankful to have received saving grace, but that happened a long way back. The opportunities and obligations of regular life take up most of my focus most of the time. So OF COURSE I’m thankful for grace, but I’ve got work to do, bills to pay, family stuff to attend to, etc etc etc, I’m a busy man!” Even as a pastor, I must confess that I’ve got a version of that. I bet you do too. So take a minute to think with me about this incredible truth:

“The grace of God in Jesus, for me!” can be the single, unified lens through which we see everything in our lives. Past, present, future; forgiveness, growth, obedience, service; struggles, failures, hopes, joys; all of it.

In 2 Corinthians 5, just after Paul wrote these well known words, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." he wrote these less well known ones, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." In Christ. New creation. The old has gone, the new has come. What Jesus did on the cross was for your sake so that you might become the righteousness of God. There’s a sermon there! Deep truths to consider, think on, pray on, and a foundation for worship. But also, it means that “the grace of God in Jesus, for me!” applies to:

1. YOUR PAST (like long-distance “progressive glasses” vision): 

• Look far back - to your sin, your need, your old life. Christ has forgiven your sins, justified you, rescued you, and made you His own. You stand entirely accepted. 
• You’re in Christ. New creation. The old has gone, the new has come. What Jesus did on the cross was for your sake so that you might become the righteousness of God. See it clearly and tell it to your past - be it 20 years ago or yesterday!

2. YOUR PRESENT (like intermediate “progressive glasses” vision):

• Look around - to your relationships, work, habits, struggles, and spiritual disciplines. Christ is with you, empowering you, sanctifying you, loving you, and shepherding you.
• You’re in Christ. New creation. The old has gone, the new has come. What Jesus did on the cross was for your sake so that you might become the righteousness of God. See it clearly and tell it to your current exterior-life realities, both the good and the bad!

3. YOUR DAILY DETAILS (like near “progressive glasses” vision):

• Look close - to your anxieties, temptations, failures, and decisions. There is no condemnation, no separation, and no shortage of grace. Christ’s righteousness is still yours, His mercy is still new, and His power is still available.
• You’re in Christ. New creation. The old has gone, the new has come. What Jesus did on the cross was for your sake so that you might become the righteousness of God. See it clearly and tell it to your current interior-life realities, both the good and the bad!

Taken together, I’d say that’s good news! Today, what if you took it with you into your day? I am - at least that’s the goal. And as I do, I’ll get just a little closer to these words of blessing that God gave to His people long ago:

• May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
• Today, I’ve got “the grace of God in Jesus, for me!” and so do you - let’s enjoy it and live like it!