It, too, is under my porch

On his album “Illinois”, Christian musician Sufjan Stevens sings a song about the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. You may not be as familiar with his name as you are with his actions. Gacy confessed to the murders of 33 young men and boys. When the police went and searched his property, they found a number of these victims buried underneath the porch of Gacy’s house. What makes Gacy’s story even more chilling is that he would hold block parties for his neighbors, and he would dress up as a clown to entertain the children at these parties.
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James