In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which
He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight Ephesians 1:7-8
I was blessed to have my grandmother come and visit to hear
me preach when I was pastoring in Kerens, Texas. We were visiting in the kitchen when she
shocked me by saying, “Sometimes I wish I had experienced what I see many share
when they speak of being saved.” As we
visited, I sought to see where exactly my sweet, godly grandmother was coming
from. She had always been a faithful and
dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Perry, Oklahoma. I had never seen or heard her do anything
that would resemble a sin. Now, don’t
get me wrong. I’m sure she had her
moments as we all do, but she was a great testimony of love and humility.
I finally asked her, “Mom, I don’t know how to ask this, but
was there ever a time on your life when you were extremely rebellious against
God and committed some really bad sins?”
Her answer was as I expected.
“No, I’ve always tried my best to please God and follow Him.” “Well,” I said, “for many who have suffered
the pain of sin and rebellion conversion is a very hard and difficult
thing. There is so much grief and sorrow
from their sin that the joy of forgiveness is overwhelming. But Mom, I don’t think I would want to suffer
what many have suffered and lost just to have an emotional testimony, would
you?”
I used to wish I had a more dramatic testimony. I was only a
child when I gave my life to Christ. Although it was the most important moment
of my life, it wasn’t something most people would consider dramatic. I knew I was a sinner separated from God and
that was enough. I embraced my
salvation. I really tried to follow
Christ as a teen and surrendered to His call to serve. That doesn’t make for the classic “road to
Damascus, I used to use drugs, sleep around, and spent time in prison” kind of
testimony that leaves people in tears. I’m
sorry. But that’s not my story.
My grandmother and I had something in common and it’s now
something I praise God for. I’ve learned
that while some Christian conversion stories may be more spectacular than others,
that doesn’t make them any more significant. Sometimes we think the most impactful
testimonies in the Christian life are those of people who praise God for the
things He delivered them from; sexual relationships, addictions, etc. But perhaps the people who should praise God
the most are the people who can praise Him for what He has kept them from.
Perhaps these people should begin their testimonies by saying, “God saved me
from pre-marital sex, drugs, alcohol, and a life of sin-when I was nine and gave
my life to Christ.”
I wonder if the problem is that when someone is rescued from
the edge of doom, we think it is because of the grace and power of God, but
when someone never approaches it we attribute it to their own diligence and
discipline. This viewpoint completely
misses key aspects of sin, grace, and God’s glory. God’s grace doesn’t just rescue you from a
life engrossed in sin. It also keeps you
from it. God doesn’t just receive glory
when He has to completely remake a ruined life. He’s just as glorified when someone commits
themselves to purity and a holy life, and by God’s grace sticks to it.
If what I have been describing is your story, the next time
you feel like you don’t have anything to praise God for, imagine what you would
be addicted to and what you would have gone through if He had not kept you from
falling. Let’s not allow the most
passionate voices of praise to only be the ones who have received God’s
abundant grace because of their experiences. Let’s start learning to praise God
for the parts of our testimony that we have never had to experience because of
His grace.
Scripture to Claim:
“To him who is able to keep you from
falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with
great joy- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25
