I spent time with a fascinating person yesterday. His name is James Murphy, but he goes by the nickname “Murf the Surf”. He came from a wonderful loving family and at a young age took up playing the violin. He soon mastered it and went on to play classical violin with some of the finest orchestras in the country; he also became an accomplished seascape artist; and he was an incredible athlete and excelled in sports and later became an award winning surfer, (that’s how he earned the Murf the Surf nickname). He is highly intelligent and articulate, and many say he is a genius.
Murf is best known for pulling off the largest jewel heist that ever occurred in the United States when he stole the J. P. Morgan jewel collection in New York. He also robbed banks, took drugs, alcohol, partied hard and made an overall mess of his life. His criminal lifestyle eventually caught up with him and he went to prison. He ended up with two consecutive life sentences plus 21 years to be served in the toughest prison in Florida. He avoided a death penalty sentence but did spend time on death row after a prison riot.
We talked by phone and I gave him directions to my home for our meeting and he told me not to bother. He told me, “You don’t need to tell an old bank robber stuff like that”. He went on to say he already knew exactly where I lived and even looked at aerial photographs of my home.
Yikes!
Fortunately Murf the Surf found Jesus Christ while in prison. He was paroled after serving 17 or so years. Since that time he has worked with the Bill Glass Prison Ministry and has worked inside the toughest prisons all over the world and has seen literally tens of thousands of men come to know Jesus Christ over nearly twenty years. (I’m going to work some prisons with him for this ministry later this fall as one of the platform speakers in the yard, hence the reason for our meeting).
Currently he is working towards making a movie of his spellbinding life. We spent time comparing notes on the amazing grace of God and His ability to transform wretches like us in order to accomplish His purpose. To say the least it was an interesting day.
As I talk to people all over the country I see legions of people who are losing hope. It might be their marriage, kids going awry, friends who turned out not to be not such good friends, paying off credit card debt, getting a job, putting food on the table, being able to ever retire, our corrupt government, giving up booze, drugs, pornography, or that sweet little thing on the side, or finding peace, joy, or happiness in spite of tremendous wealth.
Murf and I are living proof that no matter how hopeless situations might appear to frail human beings, nothing is impossible for our God. Others might give up on us, and indeed we might give up on us, but God never gives up on us and His door is always open. He stands at it ready to forgive, even the most heinous crimes against Him, and allow us to enter and dine with Him and enjoy eternity together. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and no problem is too big for our Lord.
We must have faith, work hard to achieve God’s purpose for our lives, and follow His commands. As the old gospel song says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way – To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”.
Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God.