"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." -- Jonah 2:8

Forfeit grace? How can any of us forfeit grace?

In the same way that we commit the "unpardonable sin." By rejecting ultimately and finally the Source from which grace and forgiveness springs.

Everyone believes in something. Everyone has an object of worship. There is no such thing as a true atheist. It requires faith to believe that there is no God. It requires a presupposition. An unprovable premise. An atheist is as much of a religionist as the most fanatical rattlesnake handler.

We all worship something, whether it be God, money, power, influence or ourselves. However, unlike belief in money, power, influence or ourselves, faith in God provides its own proof. To the person who believes in money and these other things, life is one continual test of proof after another. All of it can vanish in a heartbeat. Their belief system is never secure.

Ask a believer in Jesus Christ to prove there is a God. Of course, he or she can't prove it to you, but such a person has already proven it to him or herself. One cannot prove the existence of God prior to a leap of faith. After such a leap, proof is overwhelming.

In a similar fashion, we come to understand grace. We may know it, feel it, or experience it only if we are willing to trust the One who is the Source of it.

Ego cannot provide us with grace. It can only provide license. Money cannot provide us with grace. It can only provide us with material emptiness. Power will never provide us with grace. It usually makes people corrupt. Influence will not provide us with grace. It will only provide the leverage of temporal control. Atheism will not give us grace. It will only provide disillusionment and smallness.

The forfeiture of grace is the forfeiture of all that is decent in human experience. Grace is from God. The forfeiture of grace is the forfeiture of Truth.