"Imperfect People Serving a Perfect God"
Dateline: Living Proof of Amazing Grace
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
When I was in my early 20's I visited a cardiologist and was diagnosed with a heart condition. Although this was "half my life ago" (I'll be 42 next week), I still remember the advice the doctor gave me. He told me that if I ever used an amphetamine, I would die. Since I was so deeply entrenched in the lifestyle of a prodigal son, not only did I disregard the doctor's advice, I also silently recalled the many times I had already proven him wrong. Our band (aptly called "The Addicted") was playing at a place called The Outcast Theater a few months after my diagnosis. Between sets I went into the bathroom and found several of friends gathered around a large pile of cocaine. Everyone was pretty well "in the bag" including the band. Almost immediately the gang challenged me to snort a line of cocaine as long as the bathroom sink. A challenge which I obliged. I went back out to start the second set and our singer "A.K" looked at me and said, "Are you okay?" Believe you me, you had to be pretty messed up to have someone in our group notice. Needless to say I survived that night (I do recall the night ended with a minor riot and a police shutdown at the theater) and many others before truly giving my life to the Lord on Aug. 6, 2000.
During the years I chose to shut God out of my life I came up with all sorts of reasons and excuses as to why I was able to live the life I lived. I didn't die because the doctor was wrong. I didn't go to jail because I was lucky. Our group of friends stayed out of trouble because we were smarter than other people. etc. Now I know the sole reason for this wretch's pardon was the grace of God. He sustained me before I was saved many times and He did the same for you.
As we watch our world awry and slipping into moral depravity it is easy to become upset, angry, and afraid. Everywhere we turn we find people turning away from God. But what we, God's people, need to focus on is the grace of God not the sin of man. When I was lost I did not know about God's grace. All I knew was a life permeated by sin- to the point of saturation, yet without destruction (does this sound like the front page of the newspaper or evening newscast?). Indeed, we may be living in an age with more evidence of God's grace than any other time in history. How's that for an encouraging "spin?"
So what do we do now? Start by praising our great God for His great grace. Then do what His word says to do.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
