The movie Hall Pass, which comes out this Friday, is about two married men who are given a "Hall Pass" from their spouses. A hall pass is a one week break from marriage where they can do anything they want with no consequences. The idea behind the movie, and sadly probably right on, is that if there were no consequences we would quickly, and excitedly engage in activities that we knew were wrong. I think that most people would. Even us as Christians, because often times the motivation for why we do what we do is simply this: We don't want to get caught and suffer the consequences. We don't want to ruin our image. We don't want to ruin our family, or marriage, or education, or athletic career. For many Christians the reason we avoid sin is because we fear the consequences. Yes, this way of living for many of us will cause us not to fall into "major sin" but tragically it will lead all of us into living "luke-warm" lives. You and I both know that is the last thing this world needs more of.
The truth of the matter is that fear of consequences might lead us to avoid cheating on a spouse, committing murder, and on and on, but fear of consequences won't make us, "deny ourselves and take up our cross." Fear on consequences won't lead us to love our enemies. Fear of consequences won't lead us to forgive those who have hurt us. Fear of consequences won't lead us to live in humility. Fear of consequences won't cause us to love the, "least of these." Fear of consequences leads us to do the minimum. We do the least amount of work we can do to "get by" and stay out of trouble. Fear on consequences does not change us on the inside, only on the outside.
Thankfully, we are not called to live life out of fear on consequences, we are not called to be obedient out of fear of consequences. We are called to live life out of a love for God. Out of a love that cannot comprehend that the God of this universe would have his Son murdered, tortured on a cross, to restore a relationship that WE have broken because WE have sinned against the God of this universe. When we get grace, when we get that we can't earn it, deserve it, or pay it back, our only response is great thankfulness and love. While fear of consequences causes us to do just enough to get by, love will lead us to begin to live the way Jesus has called us to live on the inside and outside. Love changes us, love motivates us to do anything! Are you motivated by love or fear? I pray that you take time today reflecting on the amazing gift of grace that we have been given, and as you do that your whole being would rise up in love and adoration for the God of the universe who loved you more than we can EVER comprehend, and as a result you begin to live, look, act, and talk more like Jesus, because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to. If God gave you a hall pass, I hope that nothing would change in your life because you are living for God out of love, not out of fear of consequences. Ask yourself this question (as I also ask myself this question). If God gave me a Hall pass for the next 7 days, how would I (honestly) live the next 7 days. The answer should reveal a lot about why you do the things you do! Rest in the amazing grace and love of God today.
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