One of the great lies of our day is that conversion is instant, like fast food. God can zap us and we’re saved. It is all free. It costs nothing. Take it and run. This is what Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace.” Punch in at church. Grab a sacrament and run. Season your conversation with “praise the Lord” and you’re among the saved.
One of the great truths of our day is that conversion is ongoing. Conversion is the process in which we are given opportunity upon opportunity to accept the free gift of salvation. Salvation is a free gift, yes, but it’s costly. It’s “costly grace.” It costs us our lives lived passionately.
The road to conversion is not a fast food line. When Saul was knocked down by that flash of lightning, that was not conversion. That was just God getting his attention. The conversion came as he groped his way in blindness to Ananias, able to see with interior eyes because he had no external eyes to depend on.
His conversion continued day after day as he began to give meaning to his new name, Paul. He was still in the process of conversion when he was on his way to Rome in chains.
This is an excerpt from a book A Tree Full of Angels by Macrina Wiederkehr. If you would like to buy this book please click here.