Louie Giglio - The Thread of Grace
We’re in a collection of talks called Grace and Glory. These are big ideas in our church. We have three theological anchors at Passion City: the glory of God, radical grace, and extravagant worship. Grace and glory are not just words we picked out of thin air; they are important to the theological underpinning of our house. Last week, we talked about this idea that grace can be defined as «God at work.»
You could define grace in many ways, but this is grace: it’s God doing what you and I can’t do. It’s God accomplishing what we never could do, and on our best day, with all our might, we couldn’t do the things that God has done through grace. This primarily happens at the cross, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the empty tomb. But it’s not just a three-day event of grace; grace is a thread throughout all eternity and all of history. I want you to see that today, so let’s get ready for a small seminary class. I might try to throw in an illustration, but it’s not going to be that kind of message, and you’re not going to be able to write everything down. I just want you to be moved, like I have been, by the thread of God being at work throughout eternity.
Grace was in effect before there was time. That’s the first thing I want you to see today: before there was a world, grace was already moving in your direction and toward me for the glory of God. Revelation 13 states that all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast, whose names have not been written in the book of life. Most of our names, though, have been written in the Book of Life, and we celebrate that today — the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain. When was He slain? He was slain on the cross, but this text lets us know He was slain from the foundation of the world. In other words, before there was an earth, Jesus had already, in the books of heaven, given Himself for the sins of the world.
It’s a crazy thought. We can imagine eternity future: I’m going to go to heaven when I die, I’m going to be with God in glory forever. But that same eternity that is future is also past. God has always been; you can’t really wrap a human brain around the concept that God didn’t have a beginning. He always has been; His name is «I am that I am.» He exists — that’s the name of God. In eternity past, it was already settled before there was a world that the Lamb would be slain: grace, God at work before the foundation of the world.
Peter said it a different way: since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. He goes on to say that you weren’t redeemed with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. He, Jesus, this Lamb, was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. It was already settled what Christ was about. Grace was already moving before the world. Ephesians 1 says: praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, for He chose us — God did — in Him before the creation of the world.
Before you were born, He chose you in Christ. Grace was moving in your direction even before you knew there was a direction. God was already at work to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given to us in the one He loves. It goes on to talk about the riches of God’s grace before the foundation of the world. I’m not going to go through everything with four passages, but I want you to see this isn’t just a verse or two in the gospels about grace and about Jesus dying on a cross; this thread runs through the entire scripture and all eternity.
In 2 Timothy, it says He has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything we have done — why? Because grace is God at work, so of course it’s not anything we have done — but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
The second thing I want us to see is the gift of grace. If you ever want to see God at work, look at the first line in the Bible. Most people know the first line in the Bible; can you read it with me? «In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.» Who created? Who was at work? Did you create? Nope. Did I create? Nope. Were you at work? Nope. Was I at work? Nope. In the beginning, God was at work. Grace was in motion. God was doing what only God could do; He was doing the heavy lifting, bringing everything that exists from nothing.
I want you to see who was involved — was it Jesus? Yes, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They were there at the beginning, making man in our image. But who was the operational part of the Trinity? Who was actually doing the creating? Jesus. Hebrews chapter 1 states: in the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things. Look at this: «and through whom also He made the universe.» Jesus was the operational force who created the world — nail-pierced hands flung the stars into space. John said it this way: in the beginning was the Word. We know that’s Jesus, the capital «W,» and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, and through Him all things were made. Without Him, nothing was made. Grace has a name — and that name made the world.
A few verses down in Genesis chapter one, it says that God created mankind in His own image. Wow, talk about grace! I’m going to make you, and I’m not just going to make you; I’m going to make you in My image. In the image of God, He created them; male and female, He created them. Your existence is an act of the grace of God. The world we’re in is an act of grace, but you — your existence is by grace. They didn’t want God, and they sinned and fell away. God came, and when He entered the equation, He said to the serpent who had tempted them, «I will put enmity between you and the woman» (this is Genesis chapter three) «and between your offspring and hers.» He, her offspring — a picture of Jesus coming — will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
In the garden, there is a picture of what Jesus was going to do on the cross and at the empty tomb: He’s going to crush your head, Satan. A few verses down, it says, «The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.» They sinned; they knew they were naked and were now ashamed. God intervened into their nakedness and shame. God killed an animal in the garden, took the skin of that animal, and made garments to cover and clothe the man and woman. The very first sacrifice in time and history was all because of God’s grace and obviously pointed to a time when another sacrifice would be made by God.
We exist because of God. We are living because of God. The grace of God is already showing up in the earliest part of man’s story. But mankind went crazy and were wicked beyond measure. The Lord said in chapter six, «The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth and was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth — both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'» But — «but» is the conjunction of grace — Noah was not perfect, but it says a few verses down that he was a righteous man in his heart. Noah found grace — the first time this word appears in the Bible — in the eyes of the Lord. So Noah had to work; he had to build a boat. He built an ark. I don’t know what the ark looked like. I haven’t been to the museum yet to see it — a little door and a little ramp so people can go up. Noah built the ark, but God saved the ark in the waters for 40 days and 40 nights. Grace in the eyes of the Lord. There was grace on the mountain called Moriah.
Now Abraham had a covenant with God. God was going to make him the father of a mighty nation. His descendants were going to be more numerous than the stars in the sky, and he said, «That’s not going to happen. Look how old I am, and my wife can’t have kids.» But there’s something called grace, and what is grace? It’s God at work doing things we can’t do. When Abraham was too old and his wife could not have children, God said, «I can do that. I am a God of grace.» Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, «God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.» She also said, «Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, for I have borne him a son in his old age?» You know how? Because God.
Then God said, «This son, who is going to be the one through whom this promise comes and these descendants will flow, I want you to take him up on that mountain and sacrifice him as an act of faith to God.» Now, before you get too freaked out about that, God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice his son. This was all a story about God, not necessarily about Abraham and his son. Abraham said when they got up there — when the son said, «I see the fire and I see the wood, but I don’t see the sacrifice» — Abraham responded, «My son, God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.» When they got there, God will do it; God will provide.
Abraham lifted his eyes and looked; there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son, and Abraham called the name of the place «The Lord Will Provide.» As it is said to this day, «In the Mount of the Lord, it shall be provided.» This all happened somewhere around 1900 to 1800 BC on Mount Moriah, where later in time, when BC was turning to AD, Jesus died on that mountain. On that mountain, Jehovah Jireh did it again, and on the mountain of the Lord, God will provide. I didn’t provide, and you didn’t provide, but God did.
Grace is at the end of Genesis chapter 50, making a way for Jesus to be born. Joseph, as you know, is one of the sons of Jacob. Following the line from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jacob has all these sons. The brothers are hateful towards Joseph; they throw him in a pit and sell him into slavery. His life is miserable for a long time, but eventually, God miraculously raises him up out of a dungeon and makes him the second most powerful man in Egypt, giving him the foresight and wisdom to store up plenty because a famine is coming to the land. When the famine comes, Joseph’s family — his brothers and his dad — they’re all back in Canaan. They have to come down to Egypt to get food because Egypt is the only place where there is food.
In Joseph’s family is the promise of Jesus, not just through his family line, but through the family he is in. His brother Judah is going to be the one through whom the Messiah comes. But his brother Judah and his brothers are starving in Canaan and are going to die. Jesus isn’t going to come unless a miracle happens. The miracle was Joseph going through all that travail and being lifted up to be the second most powerful man in Egypt, running the food distribution program. When his brothers come, at the end of it all, they realize that when their dad passes away, they’re all going to be in serious trouble with Joseph. Joseph said to his brothers — this is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, even people who don’t go to church know this next phrase: «Do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God. But as for you, you meant evil against me. But God meant it for good.» All this hardship I went through, God had a plan in all of it. All of this «doesn’t make sense» stuff — God said, «Oh, it makes perfect sense because I’m going to use you to extend grace to your families and to your brother through whom the Messiah will come.» Grace has a name, and His name is Jesus.
In the end, Joseph told his brothers it was to save many people alive. Grace made a way for Jesus to be born. The new ruler in Egypt didn’t know Joseph and didn’t know the people of Joseph; he put all of God’s people into bondage. But God extended grace to deliver — delivering grace. He said to Moses, «I’ve surely seen the oppression. I’ve heard their cry; I know their sorrow. I have come down to deliver them, to bring them up from that land to a good land. I have heard their cry come to me; I have seen the oppression with which they are oppressed.»
So come now, Moses, and I will send you. God said, «I will send.» Look at all these verbs: I’ve seen, I’m sending, it has come, I’m going to bring them up, I have come down, I know, I’ve heard, I’ve seen. God is at work, and He says to Moses, «I’m sending you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.»
Now, Moses didn’t get all the verbs, so he said, «Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?» God didn’t say, «Oh, let me build you up.» God said, «Oh, I’m going with you.» Did I not say that part? Grace is going with you. You will have what you need every step of the way through the grace of God. The grace that is going to deliver God’s people is delivering grace. Moses went to Pharaoh; Pharaoh didn’t want to let the people go. So there were plagues on all of Egypt, and the last plague was the angel of death passing over every home, and the firstborn was going to die. But He said to His people, «Take this spotless lamb and put the blood over the door of your house, and when the angel comes, he’ll see the blood of the Passover Lamb, and the angel will pass over your house.»
«For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike all the firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.» God at work, and He did. To this day, the Jewish people celebrate that night, and they call it Passover, where God’s grace spared their lives.
That’s why it is no coincidence that in Matthew, we see when Jesus had finished saying all these things, He said to His disciples, «As you know, the Passover — the celebration of that night — is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.» On the day that we’re celebrating that God passed over us because of the blood of a lamb, the Lamb of God is going to be on a cross so that you can pass over, all who put their faith and trust in Him.
It is the grace of God at the Passover Lamb. Pharaoh finally let them go, but he changed his mind. Here they were, stuck in the desert, coming up against this body of water with the army bearing down behind them. When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and the Egyptians marched after them. They were afraid, and they cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, «Because there were no graves in Egypt, you’ve taken us away to die in the wilderness.» They went on to say, «What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?»
But then look what Moses says. He said to the people, «Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you.» Wow! Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry land; the waters were divided. God, by grace, delivered His people from the sea.
Praise God! When you leave Exodus, you get into some of our favorite books: Leviticus and Numbers. Leviticus is all about the Tabernacle — Exodus is as well — where God was going to meet with man. In it was the Holy of Holies, and in it was the Ark of the Covenant. The second ark has arrived. Only one person could go into the Holy of Holies — the high priest — on one day a year. But as they were constructing this, it’s interesting to note that this thread of grace is there. Notice what it says in Exodus 28: «Make the robe of the ephod — this is what the priests were going to wear — entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.» You read the rest; I need to let my voice rest for a second. Can you pick it up?
Read about the gold bells — the bells let him know he’s still alive in there. In the event of being with the holy God, if he dies, and on his robe are pomegranates that are woven with blue and purple, there is a scarlet thread. All those who were skilled among the workers made the Tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands.
There was a scarlet thread of grace woven into the tapestry and pointing to Jesus. If we skipped ahead to Hebrews, it says, «Day after day, every priest stands and performs his religious duties. Again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest, Jesus, had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.» Since that time, he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
That scarlet thread was woven into the garment of the priest who would enter into the Holy of Holies to make the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. That same thread was there and woven into the tapestries in the Tabernacle itself. It now takes us to the high priest of all high priests — Jesus — who is going to enter into the heavens and through not that curtain, but by His body is going to make a way for you and I to enter into the very presence of God. God is making a way even in Exodus and even in Leviticus; He’s showing us the scarlet thread of the grace of God that is moving from eternity past to eternity future and doing the unthinkable through time, history, and space by offering and extending the mercy and kindness of God to all people everywhere who would put their faith and trust in Him.
Praise God! In Numbers 6, there was a blessing; maybe you’ve heard it before. God is extending His grace even before Jesus arrives. The Lord said to Moses, «Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them, 'The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.'»
God led the people finally into the Promised Land. Before they went in, they scouted out Jericho. Two spies went in, and the people in Jericho knew they were there and came after them. But they found a woman named Rahab, who happened to be a prostitute. She took them in and hid them on the roof of her house, believing in God and fearing God. They said, «We’re coming back, and we’re going to wipe out this town.» She said, «I believe in God,» and they said, «When we come back, we will save you and your family. The way we will know is that you will drop a scarlet cord out of your window.» When they came back, they did see Jericho fall, but Rahab and her family were spared by the grace of God and the scarlet cord out the window.
The thread of God’s grace is woven through history. The psalmist wrote it this way: He made His ways known to Moses, and His deeds to the people of Israel. «The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities; for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.»
How can the psalmist say this? Because the prophets are coming, and the prophets are speaking about what God is going to do. I love how we see it in Isaiah 53, and you should read the whole chapter, but let’s zoom in on one point — let’s just look at verse 6: «We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him.» God did it. «God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds, we are healed.» Who laid our iniquity on Him? We didn’t even lay our own iniquity on the Savior; God did it. Grace at work, prophesied 700 BC. God is saying, «Grace is coming, get ready! Grace is on the way.»
Isaiah said, «The Lord will give you a sign, and that sign will be a virgin, and she will conceive and give birth to a son, and we’ll call Him Emmanuel.» Here we are 700 years before Jesus, and He’s saying, «Grace is coming, get ready!» And then grace arrived. This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came аbout: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. You know the story — before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, «Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.»
You know this story. In Luke, there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Grace and glory always show up at the same time and place. They were terrified, but the angel said, «Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.»
He shows up — this angel shows up to shepherds. Why? Because they need to know, while they’re keeping their flock of sheep, that the perfect Lamb of God has just been born nearby. «Not it’s going to be born; hey, I came to tell y’all that there’s going to be a baby born today. You might want to come and help.» No! He has been born before you heard it. He’s already here. Before I told you, He’s already shown up. God is at work. God got there first, and He’s already at work. He’s already in a manger.
John said it this way in chapter one: «The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.» When Jesus arrived, He was full. When He got here, He was full of grace. Praise God! «From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace, for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.» Praise God!
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him and twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. The same grace that chose us before the foundation of the world and in eternity past wove a robe that they would put on Jesus just minutes before He would go to the cross. Grace finished the work. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, «It is finished!» With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
If grace is God at work, then God at work finished the work right there on that cross, and He said, «It’s finished!» The work of grace is done. I have done what I decided in eternity past that I would do, and I have become what I knew I would become. I am the sacrifice for the sins of the world, and I will give a perfect life to ransom men. It is finished! Grace — God at work — God did it.
That’s why we’re here today. That’s why we’re breathing the air of forgiveness today — because of His great love for us. God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved. God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus in order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace — remember last week? Can you say it with me? «It is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God. It is not by works, so that no one can boast.» We are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You might have to build a boat, but God will protect it in the waters for 40 days and 40 nights. This thread of grace does not run through any other religious system on Earth. The followers of Jesus trace the thread of grace from beginning to end. It is not by works; it is not a system; it is a savior. It is grace. His very throne is grace.
Since then, we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven — Jesus, the Son of God. Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne — this amazing throne of God — the throne of grace. Let us approach with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. The very throne of God is grace!
Praise God! Grace was the greeting of the early church. They didn’t say, «Hey, how are you doing?» They said, «Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.» In Ephesians, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus — the faithful in Christ Jesus — says, «Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.» Most people probably won’t underline the last verse, but if you go to the last verse of chapter six of Ephesians, it says, «Peace to the brothers and sisters and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.»
It’s the first greeting, it’s the last greeting, and it’s the same in the letter to the Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and even Revelation. They all start with a salutation: «Grace to you,» and all but two end with the final sentence, saying, «Grace to you.» This was the byword of the early church: we are in a story, and we have taken hold of the thread of the grace of God from beginning to end. It is our greeting. His grace is our riches.
Paul wrote in Corinthians, «For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich.» How do you get rich? Because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is what awaits us in heaven.
We saw this in our Revelation collection. I’ll just jump into a few places in chapter 5, where they sang a new song. Do you know what it was? It was a song about what God did: «You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals.» This is Jesus glorified in heaven, surrounded by creatures and elders. This is Jesus at the epicenter of worship — fire in His eyes, hair white like wool, sun-like shining at full strength. This Jesus is glorious and magnificent, but what is the song?
The song is, «You are worthy.» Why are you worthy? «Because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.» They are singing about grace in The Throne Room of God. He is coming — He is coming on a white horse; He’s coming to finish it all. He’s coming to finish off all unrighteousness, all evil, and all enemies. He’s coming.
I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, He judges and wages war; His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself, and He is dressed — how is the one coming on the white horse dressed? He’s coming to wage war. Man, I bet He is bulked up; I bet He’s got on impenetrable armor. I bet He’s fierce. How is He dressed on the white horse? He’s dressed in a robe dipped in blood. He’s dressed in grace, and His name is the Word of God.
Then the very last words in the Bible — do you know them? Someone said, «I am coming quickly.» Yes, come, Lord Jesus. Close — very close — to the last ones. The very last words in this book, of course you know what they are. What are they? Some version of grace! This version: «The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.»
Of course, you have His wisdom; yes, you have His strength, His life, His righteousness, purpose, dignity, destiny, and image. But the one thing He wanted you to have with you was His grace.
The end. I’m through speaking now. Now, in the word of God, I would like to close with this: «The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.» Why? Because if God is at work with God’s people, then anything is possible for God’s people.
I’ve been, obviously, down deep in grace; I could hardly sit down some of the time, massively moved all the time. I kept hearing this song in the back of my mind. You ever get a song stuck in your head when you’re doing something? Whenever you’re doing that, that song and that thing just connect. The song that got stuck in the back of my head is by this guy named Crowder, and it’s called «Grave Robber.» That’s a song about grace, and I couldn’t get that bridge part out of my mind. It must have played over a thousand times: «Taking my sin, taking my shame, breaking my soul out of these chains — I’m a dead man living, and God did it. Taking my sin, taking my shame, breaking my soul out of these chains — I’ve been forgiven, and God did it! God did it!»
I’m telling you, if grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking because that ocean has no shore. From eternity past to eternity future, the ocean of God’s grace has no shore, and it’s running through this room right now, this thread of grace. It’s running through this room right now; it’s running through Cumberland right now; it’s running through Truth right now; it’s running through your den right now. If you want to, you can reach up and take hold of the thread of the grace of God to be saved, to be sustained. There’s a thread running right through your world right now, and you can reach up and take hold of it, the eternal thread that God did it.