Almost every New Year Day couples of new laws or policies will become effective in our country so that the society will be kept in order properly. If a person breaks a new law, he/she will definitely be punished. In Taiwan motorcycle riders didn’t have to put on safety helmets while they’re on the road. But as long as a bill signed into law several years ago requiring all riders to wear helmets before they hit the road, any scooter riders if caught by the police will be fined NT$500. I remember the first time I complained and argued with a police officer why I didn’t have my helmet on. He didn’t pay attention to my plea—living nearby and purchasing a couple of items in a neighboring grocery store. I was upset and even angry with the officer, who was not merciful to me. Of course I wann’t a Christian then.

As Paul spoke of the law and the grace of God, he explained, “The law as added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). As Adam sinned by disobeying God, eating the forbidden fruit, we all have sinned by nature even without breaking a single law. So like the helmet law, we didn’t know we had violated that law until the law was put into action. The more the laws are set the more the offences people will commit. Who could live a life without breaking a single law? The icy chief inspector Javert in Hugo’s Les Miserables who’s “tried to live lis life without breaking a single rule ends up killing himself because he treasures law more than mercy, He doesn’t show mercy to his lawbreakers nor to himself. But as Paul mentioned where “sin increased, grace increased all the more.” The grace of God and his wonderful mercy is always more abundant than offences and sins

Do you feel guilty of breaking a tiny, single rule? Is condemnation bothering you and overwhelming you? Come to Jesus and repent of your mistakes or sins and he is able to deliver you and set you free. In Christ we become all new creations.