"Grace Gardens"

“I Am What I Am” or “I Am That I Am”

Leonard Ward, Servant by Grace

“But by the grace of God I am what I am.”
I Cor. 10:10


“I am that I am.”
Exodus 3:14


Here are two statements by two very separate entities. One is finite and the other infinite. One is limited and the other limitless. One is transient and the other eternal. One is completely human and the other completely God!
One statement by two that is only changed by two words. They are: “what” and “that”. The truths are immense and breath taking. Within the context is the very nature of the holy, eternal, triune God expressing His nature and His relationship to the nature of man.
Paul, “an Hebrew of the Hebrews,” makes his proclamation sure and to the point. Whatever he IS, is due to the grace of He who is I AM. Paul recites his qualifications and credentials in Philippians 3:5, and shortly denounces them as “dung” in verse 8. Paul was satisfied and content to view his only spiritual qualification as the grace of “I AM.” Therefore he stated, “But by the grace of God I am WHAT I am.”
WHAT states a nature of change and dependence. Every thing that Paul was depended on the grace of “I AM.”
On the other hand when Moses queried while bowed shoe-less at the burning bush, “When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall say to me, what is His name? what shall I say unto them?” the response carried no what, but a simple, “I AM…I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Today man seeks qualifications, certifications, and ordinations. Once while in a Texas State training following my profession, the lecturer stated succinctly, “In Texas it’s not what you are competent to do, but what you are certified to do.” We seek and applaud certifications, and the more certificates we have on the wall and with which we can fill a resume’, the greater respect we have. I have several of those myself and have often thought of making one to hang above them all. It would be one word, DUNG. There is no degree that makes you truly educated. There is no certification that makes you truly competent. There is no ordination that qualifies you for service. Below those same certificates and degrees will be another one word plaque, GRACE.
Grace needs no explanation because it defies explanation! That is the nature of I AM. Why did God say to tell them, “I Am hath sent me unto you”? God needs no explanation, and if He gave one we would not understand it. God never explains Himself He defies explanation. He needs no degrees, certifications, or qualifications.
He wills Himself and that is all. He never says, “oops,” “I apologize,” or “my bad.”
Grace pours forth from Him self will in limitless fountains that were opened in his side, feet, and hands, with his only explanation, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” One cannot analyze, modify, or explain that statement into simpler terms. The wayfaring man, the fool, cannot mistake I AM!
Jeremiah experienced the “I AM…GRACE” at the potter’s house. It was the ever-spinning wheel, upon which sat a piece of broken clay being constantly formed and remolded into the potter’s will. The potter was patient with the brokenness and persistent with the forming, until at last he would have a vessel of honor.
Friends, I am still on the wheel. I have felt the loving hands of the potter as the cracks and imperfections of my clay gave way to their firm grasp and crumbled on the wheel. I have felt the touch of infinite love as each piece was gathered again, brought into one, and turned again! There is no explanation, just one word…GRACE! The grace of I AM who is working make me WHAT I AM!!!!!!