The men’s breakfast speaker, introducing himself, did not mention his title, did not refer to his position, and did not even state his name. Instead, he started introducing himself by a litany of sinful traits. His list included adulterer, liar, skirt-chaser, fornicator, thief, and about a half-dozen sinful characteristics. At some point though, he went on to say, in spite of all he had done, God STILL loved him. If they were any doubters in attendance, doubtful, thinking that because of the speaker’s mess-ups, mistakes, and maligned acts surely disqualified him to be the deliverer of a worthwhile message, the speaker simply recited what we know as “The Gospel in a Nutshell,” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” He repeated a truth that cannot be discounted, denied, or dismissed, “God STILL loved me.” The speaker’s rate of speed increased as he spoke, and his tone switched, transitioning from a slow, soft, level to many decibels higher. He went on to share in words similar to these, “He saved me from hell, the place where people pay the penalty of sin! God STILL loved me! He saved me from the power of sin, including any alluring temptation that would try to lure me back to my old life; the life I lived before coming to Jesus and accepting Him as my Lord and Savior. God STILL loved me!” The speaker, having gained the attention of all in the room who were listening with expressions of awe on their faces, went on to add, “And He is saving me from the presence of sin in two ways! The first way is that I no longer hang around my old crowd whose presence was influential in bad ways in times past. The second way is the ultimate way. You see, He saved me from the presence of sin ultimately, because I know that one glad morning, when this life is over, I’ll fly away to God’s celestial shore! God STILL loved me!” The speaker was not finished. He went on to quote a portion of an Old Testament verse, explaining that what God’s inspired word says in The Book of Jeremiah applied to Him, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” And again he said, “God STILL loved me!” Isn’t God good!
All of a sudden, an attendee asked, “Do you STILL do some of the things that you used to do?” The speaker replied without hesitation, “No! While I am not perfect and I don’t get it right all the time, the things I used to do, I do not do anymore.” The attendee, trying to speak in an intellectual way, as if that would make his statement hard to answer, said, “Seems like such a diametric change would be difficult, unattainable and unusual.” It was at that time that the speaker, not bothered by the interruption of his planned presentation, quoted another scripture, the one below, emphasizing that he was one included in the words “among you.”. After quoting the excerpt, he used the word STILL in a different way, He said, “I am not STILL the same!” A voice shouted out in the crowd, “Won’t He do it!” An unplanned praise session began!
Share this meditation with someone. Forward the link to a few people. God is STILL depending on you to help bring those who are in darkness into the marvelous light. Have a great day! Be blessed!
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
I’m with the voice that shouted from the crowd: “Won’t He do it?” God surely STILL loves me in so many ways. I cannot tell it all. He STILL will make a way out of no way if I keep holding on to His unchanging Hand.
I think you and your youngest son coined the phrase, “Won’t He do it!” Thanks Dr. King for your response! Be blessed!