Guest Post from Author Brent King

Today, I am happy to feature Brent King, author of Lucifer’s Last Stand, Tempting Jesus, and The Grip of Grace: God’s Hand in the Lord of the Rings. He’s been kind enough to bebop on over and tell us a little about the underlying themes in The Grip of Grace.

Grace and the Ring of Power

I was well into my 40s before I first read The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Perhaps the struggle between grace and the One Ring gripped me so lucidly and moved me so deeply because I read it so late in life. From Sméagol to the mighty Galadriel, few could resist the allure of the Ring of Power. Though grace presented each creature in Tolkien’s grand tale with a choice between good and evil, few chose wisely.

My Struggle

The epic struggles of Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Wizards (and yes, Hobbits) haunt me because their struggle is so close to mine. I wrestle with the same choice. What I do with grace determines the outcome of my journey along the path to Mount Doom.

The Mysterious Ways of Grace

Frodo’s struggle typifies mine. If he had made no effort to respond to grace, then he would have never made it to Mordor with the Ring. At worst, he would have refused to take the Ring from the comfort of the Shire, leaving the saving of the world to those more capable. At best, he would have had no guide to Mordor, for he would have thought it unnecessary to implement Gandalf’s wise counsel to grant Gollum pity and to treat him with dignity. Both of these actions required Frodo’s “yes” to the will of grace.

He needed that grace all along the path for, as we see, it is all that saved him in the end. He had no power to destroy the Ring. He took it for his own! He was saved only because he had persistently followed the mysterious path of grace throughout his journey.

Frodo’s Choice…and Mine

Through the inexplicable ways of grace, a Ring of Power can be destroyed in my world just as it was in Frodo’s. Grace alone saved Frodo’s world, and each moment I decide whether it will do the same for mine.

If you would like to read more by Brent King, you can visit him at:

Website: http://bluewater-publications.com/

Twitter: @BrentKingLMT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluewaterpublications

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/brent_king