The Best Part of Waking Up Is...?

The best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup!? Or perhaps, the snooze button, a hot shower, a roof over your head, a good breakfast, the stillness of the early morning, the sight of your spouse, the sound of your children? It is possible that any one or more of these could be the answer for some, for others it would depend on the day, and still for others it would depend on their age, perspectives, and interests on any given morning. I remember as a young boy the best part of waking up on Christmas day was the gifts around the tree and the amazing breakfast my mother would always make. As I matured and phased into the teenage years the best part of waking up on Saturday mornings was collegiate football. As I continued to grow into a young adult and college student myself, the best part of waking up was the all-you-can-eat breakfast at the dining hall. When I look back through the various stages of my life I can vividly remember precise details that, for me, made it worthwhile to rise out of bed and get going! Each of us wakes up everyday for something, the question is; What is that something?

Think about it! What is it that inspires you to wake up in the morning and do the things you do? Think about the past! What has it been that motivated you to hop off the mattress and start the day? Think about the future! What will it be that stimulates you to carpe diem! What in the world is the best part of waking up?! There are so many answers that we give to these questions, but I submit to you that there is only one correct answer. I am convinced whether you are male or female, Christian or non-Christian, tall or short, big or small, dark or light (or any shade between), wise or foolish, an Olympian or physically challenged, or any other differentiation that mankind can think of, that the best part of waking up is...

The GRACE of GOD!

At this point it would be helpful to define grace; grace is simply unmerited favor, it is favor that we cannot earn! Admittedly, anyone who is not a Christian might believe this is absolutely absurd, but most Christians would agree with this statement. The thing about the Grace of God is that it extends to all people, albeit in different ways, regardless if you realize it or not! The Word of God declares that God is not served by humans for he does not have a need, rather He himself gives to ALL mankind life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25). God's grace is what supplies every human being with existence, air in our lungs, and all other things! Moreover Acts 17:28a says, "In Him (God) we live and move and have our being." That is to say, that apart from God our life, our function, and our being would instantly cease! If God is the giver and sustainer of life and if He is perfect and holy, as His word says He is, then we quickly realize that that due to our sin and waywardness we are completely undeserving of anything from Him. The fact that we have life when we deserve death, the fact that we are given blessings when we deserve curses, and the fact that we receive mercy when we deserve total wrath is all because of the grace of God! The best part of waking up for all people is the grace of God, even though many people do not realize it. This common grace that is given to all mankind, differs from the particular grace that the people of God receive.

For Christians, we too are experience the grace of living and moving and having our being in God. And by His we acknowledge this truth and therefore offer thanks and praise to He who has opened our eyes to see it! The particular grace that extends exclusively to Christians is this: those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, have been born again by the Spirit of God and perceive the need of a Savior because of the furious wrath of God that is rightfully due to all sinners; we acknowledge that the wages of sin is death; we understand that while we were still sinners Christ died for us; we know that Christ's death on the cross appeased the holy wrath of God; we recognize that Christ died a substitutionary death and that a great transaction occurred on that day as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He (Jesus) became sin (took our place) who knew no sin (even though He lived a sinless life), so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God; meaning that Jesus died in our place as a sinner even though He lived a perfect sinless life in order that we (believers) would live in Him to be cleansed from our iniquity by receiving His righteousness and we are called to live in light of this profundity (Romans 12:1-2)! How more gracious can our great God get?

The grace of God is impossible to fully comprehend and fathom, but the one thing I know is this: that I, along with every person who has ever fallen short of the glory of God by committing even one sin (which is everyone except Jesus), have nothing to be but thankful. The fact that we are deserving of utter destruction but are given GRACE by the one true God stirs me to worship Him. Thank the Lord for His great love, for His slowness to anger, for His enduring patience, for His undeniable faithfulness, and for His amazing grace. May those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior hear this good news, confess their sin, turn to Jesus, and acknowledge that although God has been patient thus far there will be a day in which all will have to answer to God and those who have rejected Christ will be condemned to hell. May those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior hold fast to this good news and live in a manner worthy of our calling. 

The best part of waking up is... THE AMAZING GRACE OF GOD! To Him be all the glory.