Encouragement

---

When God called me to His service, I’d have to say that I fought it for a long time. And it wasn’t because I was scared, or thought that He couldn’t do it. It wasn’t even because I thought it was something I wouldn’t like to do. I ran because I thought God had made the wrong choice. There was no way He could have meant me. I was not raised in a Christian home. I did not live a Christian life. In fact, my life was far from that. There is some “stuff” in my past and, in my mind, this “stuff” disqualified me from ever being able to do these things that God told me to do. Who would listen to me? How could I break free? How could I ever forgive them and, more than that, how could I forgive myself?

But, the Bible says, in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun. I am nowhere that God didn’t know I would be. The Voice of Truth tells me that He has already laid the way and I can relax – this is nothing that God hasn’t done before. Paul, among others, has traveled this road.

Acts 22:3-15
3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Look at Paul. Not only did he not live the life of a Christian, but he murdered those who did. Add to that the fact that Paul thought what he was doing was right! Just like me. Things in my life were ok in the flesh. If it makes logical sense, if it falls in line with life teachings, then it is close enough to right. Here is where Paul was. He sat under the elite teachers and his behavior fell in line with those fleshly teachings. And he held so tight to these teachings that he sought out opportunities to kill for them.

Then, one day, on a lonely road to nowhere or anywhere, Paul found himself in the same place where I found myself – up close and personal with Christ Almighty. Jesus revealed Himself to Paul. He invited Paul to walk in the way. The same way that Paul had been persecuting. He offers Paul the chance to become a man who has been delivered from the bonds of sin and birthed into a new life with Christ. Then Jesus gave Paul his purpose – He tells Paul to go unto His people and be His witness. Paul’s past hindered nothing and he is being released from the bondage of his self-imposed chains. I want you to notice, Jesus does not ask Paul, nor did He ask me, to find the way back on our own. He did not expect Paul to figure out how to get right and walk awhile that way before He gave him further instructions. Instead, He met Paul where he was in the midst of his sinful life and He met me, where I was, and guess what. He will meet you where you are as well!

Now don’t think there weren’t obstacles for Paul to face. Those around Paul knew who he was. He had a reputation. In Acts 9:13-15, we see that Paul’s past was well known.
13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Look at Ananias. Not only did he doubt Paul, but also he doubted God. It is only logical to assume that others did. It is even logical to assume that Paul doubted Paul. I have been there. I still find myself there from time to time. Allowing the events of my past to creep back into my mind and shake me. Allowing the devil to get into my ear. Convince me that I am no good, that I can’t walk this way that I am not worthy of this gift. But truthfully, these are things I already knew. This life is not of me. This walk is not mine. I am not worthy of this gift. The devil does not win with these accusations. He is just retelling old truths and trying to put his own spin on it. It is not until the last argument that he pulls that I stumble. The devil whispers in my ear, “Jesus cannot use a wretch like you.” And I crumble. How can God use me? I am so messed up. I have ruined everything. These are the thoughts that run through my head. But God is merciful and recounts the trials of His people that walked just this way.

Abraham and Sarah went before God and had Abraham to lie down with Hagar. And God still made them the mother and father of the nations. David and Bathsheba had a grocery list of transgressions. After the lust, the lying, the cheating and the killing, God still delivered them. David is called a man after God’s own heart and Bathsheba is in the lineage of Christ. Rahab was a harlot. She is also commended for her faith in the 11th chapter of Hebrews among the likes of Noah and Jacob and Joseph. Peter denied Christ three times, yet Jesus ensured that Peter was included after His resurrection and was equipped with the Holy Ghost to spread the word of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives a whole list of unrighteous types of people. Paul calls out those who are sexually immoral and idolaters. He lists the adulterers and the homosexuals. He names the thieves. But watch what Paul says to the Corinth Church right after in verse 11.

"And such were some of you"

These same folks that had lived like the devil in the past were being called right back.

"And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

There is no sin greater than the blood Jesus shed at Calvary. There is no transgression bigger than His sacrifice. There is no crooked path that cannot be straightened by the work of the cross.

The walk is long and the struggles are too numerous to count. There will be failed trials and stumbled steps. There will be wrong turns and errors in judgment. There will be sin. But there is also abundant grace. And through His grace, those moments will pass and become the past. And He has given us a choice. We can choose to condemn ourselves in the fashion of Judas. Hang ourselves with sin. Listen to the lies the devil tells. Or, we can choose to fall at the feet of Jesus and place trust in His character. We can choose to have faith in the truth that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Faith in the knowledge that when He sent His Son to earth to die for our sins, He meant it. He meant you.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

It is not our past that shapes us or determines our future. It is not our past that determines our ability to serve the Almighty. It is the Maker, it is the Savior, it is your life in His Hands.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE