Ocean of Grace
By Rob Cheely
“…those who receive the abundance of grace and
the gift of righteousness will reign in life through…
Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Just after I began worshiping Jesus in truth, God
revealed Himself in a way my spiritual eyes h ad
never before seen. The glorious vision convinced
my heart forever of the abundance of grace that is
ours in Jesus.
Before ‘the gift’, I was never sure if I qualified
for God’s acceptance. My heart vacillated from
fear to faith. Had I ‘truly believed’? Was I ‘in Christ’
already, or still wandering in the fog somewhere
short of ‘salvation’? I didn’t know.
One day Jesus’ Spirit showed my soul a ‘great
and hidden thing which I had not known’. Hitchhiking from LA to Salt Lake, I got stuck at an exit
in the desert. The heat was stifling. No shade
anywhere, I waited hours for a ride. Relentless
heat without, crisis of faith within, a mounting wave
of desperation ensued.
I cried out to God “Give me more faith! Take away
this suffocating doubt! Free me from myself.” I wept
and pleaded that the storm within would relent.
Prompted to open my bible, my eyes were led to
Jeremiah’s prophecy:
“I know the plans I have for you, plans for good
and not for calamity, giving you a future and a
hope. You will call on Me…and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me
with all your heart. I will be found by you.”
Almost instantly, the anxiety eased. Worry and
wondering were dissipating, faith increasing. I
promised Jesus I would ‘seek Him with all my heart’.
Closing my eyes, thankful for God’s goodness, a
vision came upon me like a dream. Though I was
fully conscious, all awareness of my surroundings
ceased.
I was adrift in a raging storm, engulfed by mighty
waves. In the troughs, each wave seemed as
though it would crash down upon me. From the
peaks, I saw only ocean in every direction. No
ship, no land, no person was visible—only the
darkness of storm clouds blown along by a fierce
wind. No hope of escape.
Suddenly I sensed a strange peacefulness within
my soul. Calm and unafraid—I was overcome by
a sense of God’s presence. The water warmed my
flesh, and I had no fear. An impression of God’s
goodness and my being safe with Him filled my
mind. The great waters seemed my salvation
rather than my doom.
I couldn’t see God, but my heart was deeply
assured of the nearness of His presence and
glory. The Spirit of Jesus communicated His
loving nature to my spirit. The immenseness of His
majesty and goodness filled my soul.
Then a voice spoke gently to me above the
gale. The Lord’s words established a lifetime
of desire for, and trust in Him. “You are infinitely
surrounded by the Ocean of My Grace. There is
no escape. I will keep you in My Presence for all
eternity, for I love you.” ‘Peace like a river’ flooded
in; ‘Joy inexpressible’ brought tears to my eyes.
Thankfulness filled my heart.
As mysteriously as it had come, the vision
faded. The heat of the sun, and the safety and
lasting assurance of God’s acceptance were all