Elvis Presley was a redneck who began his early life “Mississippi poor”. He was good looking and talented with a voice straight out of heaven. He went from pauper to prince in a short period of time. I have always been fascinated with his fairy tale life where he rose to the top and then the tragic ending. Satan battled Elvis using his most powerful weapons, beautiful women, drugs, power and fame; he won that “battle” when Elvis died from a drug overdose at a relatively young age. My prayer is that Satan did not win the “war” for his soul and when I enter heaven I will once again hear that awesome voice singing Amazing Grace.
Elvis was a very generous person and he did some very nice things for many people. He was at a Cadillac dealership and saw an elderly black lady standing outside and he walked outside and handed her keys to a brand new Cadillac that he just purchased. He did things like this for complete strangers as well as his inner circle on many occasions. The Bible tells us not to let others know about our good deeds as the only reward that we will receive is a fading moment of glory and perhaps a few people will think highly of us for a moment. In other words some folks give only to impress their peers and if that is their motive they will not receive any reward from God that will be everlasting. I do not think Elvis fit that mold. I think he had a caring, giving heart and just liked to do nice things for people.
I was thinking about this today and I was trying to remember what the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for me was. I decided that it was when my brother pawned his wife’s wedding ring one time and got a bondsman to get me out of a nasty mean prison in New Orleans. Aside from that kind act I was having trouble coming up with anything. Then I happened to think about God. First there was my salvation and next the love of my life, my wonderful wife and closest friend Teresa, and beyond that my sons who are the best sons in the world.
I did not deserve salvation or a wonderful wife and family. I recently told a friend of mine that in a way I feel very lucky to have gone through so much in my youth. I could have easily died in my sins and nearly did so barely surviving the war on the mean streets, drugs, violence, et al. Somehow God miraculously rescued me when I was broken and badly beaten down to the lowest ebb and He lifted me up. You see I know I do not deserve what God gave me; I deserved to die in my sins and should have. I feel lucky because my life’s experience has given me a greater appreciation of what God did for me on that cross than the average Joe. He took my rightful place on that cross and took my punishment for me. He did not deserve to die or take my punishment; He did it voluntarily because he loved me and wanted to save me. That is the nicest thing anyone ever did for me.
Many people who have always lived a solid citizen, “goody two shoes” life, do not think they deserve punishment or everlasting torment in Hell because they do not think they are that “bad” of a person; however the Bible assures us that according to God’s “holy” and perfect laws, ALL have sinned and are condemned to Hell unless the precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, covers those sins. These folks have a very difficult time swallowing those truths and thus do not appreciate what Jesus did as much as someone like me who “knows that they know” that they should be punished and are not worthy to enter heaven’s gates.
\What is the nicest thing that anyone ever did for you? If you cannot answer, “Receiving God’s salvation”, and you do not have God’s salvation, trust me He is standing and knocking on the door of your heart just waiting to richly bless you with all that he has including everlasting life. All you need to do is bow your head at your desk or wherever you are and tell Him that you realize that you are a sinner and ask Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins. If you prayed that prayer you are wonderfully saved. Go to church this Sunday and immediately you will begin to enjoy God’s amazing grace.
Now what have you done for someone else that would be considered nice, just to help them out and with no other purpose, which you did in complete secrecy whereby only God is aware of it? What is the nicest thing “you” have ever done for someone? We all need to emulate God in that regard and get busy. Why not start today?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son that
whoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His son
into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him
might be saved.