Cars aren’t cheap … and neither is grace

Appomattox is a bit different than Dallas. But I love it. However, there are some adjustments. One is the DMV. In Dallas, that means a long line at specific buildings and quite a few prerequisites to be done before you show up. But it does mean you can get everything done in the one office.

Now Appomattox has a DMV, but it is a Select DMV. They do limited transactions, and they need the mobile unit to do out of state transfers – and that comes only one day a month. So, off to Farmville I go.

I have a letter from the church (since I don’t have a lease). I have a letter from the 911 area coordinator. And I have an electric bill with my name on it. Oh yeah, and I have my bank card … for there will be a cost.

Unlike Dallas, the DMV experience here was quick and the people actually looked like they enjoyed their job. I now have my VA license.

On to step two … pay the tax, title, and license fee for my 4Runner. Excitedly, I got a plate that highlights the AT. (Note: the above picture was a sample, not my new plate. Someone already has that custom lettering). All I can say about this part of my experience, “Ouch!”

Why this story? Sometimes, we have to pay a price to have progress. We want to drive? Pay fee. Buy a car? Pay the tax.

Want to grow on Christ? There is a cost to Discipleship. Oops, stole that line from Bonhoeffer. He distinguished between cheap grace and costly grace. Here are a few quotes …

cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.

And then …

costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, realize salvation is free to us, but there is a cost to live for Him. And when you realize what He did for you, isn’t it worth it? I think so.

Till tomorrow …