So it has been a long and rough week, but I was on Facebook tonight just minding my own business, when suddenly, out of nowhere, someone I went to high school with sent me a message on Facebook chat. We weren't enemies in high school (I mean common, it's me), but we had some rough times. I was me and he was kinda a ghetto kid who often would mock me for, well, being me. Overall we got along, but after he graduated ('05) I didn't hear much from him or even about him. I saw that he joined the army, but I didn't know much beyond that. I wondered how he was doing and if he was walking with God (I wasn't sure if he was even walking with God in high school).
So he starts up a conversation and is asking me about how I'm doing and where I am and what I'm planning on doing. When I told him I was at a Bible College in Indianapolis as a Biblical Counseling major who is the Student Council President, I was expected him to start mocking me again like he had so many times before. I was shocked when he expressed interest to hear more. We keep talking and he is in Afghanistan with 10 months left until he goes back to San Francisco. Once he goes back, he is planning on leading a worship team that would play all over the Bay Area. Wow. Is this the same guy? Well not really. He said that after high school, God did some big things in his life that forced him to cling to God. He wasn't the same guy. God had changed him.
*WARNING! RICHARD IS STEPPING UP ONTO A BOX THAT CONTAINS SOAP AND IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR IT, DON'T TELL ME I DIDN'T WARN YOU! THIS IS AT LEAST TWO OR THREE LINES OF TEXT AND IF YOU CONTINUE ON, IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT( if you aren't ready for it, go to the bottom where you see more bold font and right underneath that, I will step off the box of soap)!*
How often do we put limits on God? How often do we think that something, no matter what it is, is impossible for God to do or change? Which heart is so hard that He can't melt? What obstacle is so big that God won't do it? Now I'm not saying that God will always choose to act just because He can, but why do we all too often limit God? How many times has He blown each of us away? Maybe a better question is why we have such short memories spans? We know He is faithful, so why does that not matter?
I think it is because we don't "feel" it. Now I am about to seriously pimp-slap (I don't know if that is appropriate, but it is too late) the next person who says, "I know God promised ______ in the Bible, but I just don't FEEEEEEEEEELLLL it!" Who gives a flying fart in space (a British term, not mine) what you feel? If God promised it is His Word, it is better than any feelings. Or should I say "truer" than any feelings.
What is so beautiful about God is that no matter how we feel, He is faithful and He will always keep His promises. In those times that something seems impossible, He is just as faithful. We are so driven by our feelings nowadays that it seems like we are elevating our feelings over God's promises. This is not only wrong but stupid (sorry, I'll watch my language). This is some of the best news since it isn't dependent on us for God to keep His promises. He isn't sitting on his thrown slouched and solving a Rubki's cube saying "Man, I don't wanna do this right now, I'm not feeling it right now. Come back later when I feel like keeping my promise."
We need to take His promises as His promises and not let our feelings limit Him in what He can do.
*FOR THOSE WHO STOPPED READING UP THERE, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO COME BACK TO A RICHARD WHO IS MORE EVEN TEMPERED AND WILL NOT BE GETTING BACK ON HIS BOX TONIGHT FOR FEAR THAT THE RAIN WILL TURN HIS SOAP BOX INTO A SOAP SUD PARTY ON THE STREET CORNER WHERE RICHARD AND HIS ONCE PROPERLY SHAPED BOX WERE EARLIER!*
It was amazing to see how different he was and it served as a reminder that I'm no better than him. We are both ill-deserving sinner saved by God's grace. We both committed enough sins to fill the oceans and put our Saviour on that cross. The miracle that I see so clearly God did in this young man's life is the same one that He did for me and continues to do in my life. He saved me and is saving me. When Paul said that "none is righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10) this does not somehow magically exclude me.
I know I mentioned this in my previous post, but I am struck by the boldness of Jesus' words in Luke 7 when He says "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." Jesus know that we each have an infinite number of sins, but I think this is about perception. She was a sinful women and the other man was a teacher of the Jewish law. She knew she was filthy and needed lots of forgiveness. The other man, not so much. He needed just as much forgiveness, but he didn't think he needed it.
I was that man. I was religious and the young man was more known for his sins. But in the end, we both need the same unmerited favor. Now that I know that just by being religious does nothing, I realize that I have been forgiven of much and because of that, I love much and will continue to love much.
*Please be in prayer for my friend, Gilbert Lucero serving in the U.S. Army who is currently deployed in Afghanistan. He is serving his country well and is striving to serve his God well*
1 comment:
What a wonderful message. Thanks.
Love,
Mom
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