I was really bummed out yesterday to learn of the death of a close friend’s sister yesterday. She was just 40 years old. My friend is devastated, and I have been praying for her and ask you to do likewise. This news comes on the heels of discovering on my trip to Honey Lake that a good friend and neighbor who was close to my age and a longtime hunting buddy at Honey Lake has died.
My wife and I prepared to go to bed last night, and she looked at me with a smile and said, “Well we made it another day. Do you ever think about that?” I told her that without fail I thank God every day for allowing another day.
Why the urge to live another day. My children are already grown, have wonderful families, and are doing extremely well. I have lived a rich full life and my bucket list is all but empty. My health is heading down a fast-moving spiral. My eyesight is nearly gone, I have numerous aches and pains associated with old age enhanced by my wild young days of car wrecks, fights, and addictions. The world is evil, and our country is in a mess. To tell the truth heaven sounds pretty good right about now.
My neighbor has been pestering me to offer my testimony to his tiny church which is right down the road from my house. It is humiliating to me to bare my soul to my neighbors and admit the evil I once did prior to becoming a Christ follower, especially being a new guy in this small rural God-fearing community.
I tell myself that my story is one of the power of God to completely transform someone’s life and not about me and that helps. It is not that I’m shy or nervous, I have given my testimony probably a thousand times and have spoken to audiences 15,000 plus strong. I don’t get nervous, and I don’t use notes. I just relate where I was and where I am today, (thanks to God), and speak to the hope that God offers no matter how dire the situation may be.
I am however, deeply ashamed of my early life and must work hard almost daily to leave it buried. God wiped the slate clean when He mysteriously made me into a new creature and remembers my sins no more. Hebrews 8:12 – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Why should I continue to allow Satan the pleasure of using my sins to torment me? Jesus through His stripes has indeed healed me. If He has forgotten my sins why should I remember them. I must keep that at the top of my mind.
I truly believe God continues to allow me to live so I can tell others of His love for us and the hope that only comes through Him. This is my purpose. My testimony belongs to Him and not to me. I can no more bury it in some closet and not speak to His compassion and glory and what He has done for me than I could make the sun turn blue. I am compelled to speak of His love for me and the miracle He performed in my life. That is why I write Words for the Day, offer my testimony, and do other kingdom projects. I know that my entire life would all be for naught if I didn’t tell others of the wonderful life-changing opportunity offered through Jesus Christ. At some point my purpose will be fulfilled and He will call me home, but in the meantime I must tell others about how He can radically change anyone, even the worst of the worst. I hope you feel likewise because we ALL have a story to tell about the life changing power of Christ.
I told my neighbor I would speak at his church.
Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!