Notes From the Pastor's Desk
May 5, 2024
The Story of My Life
When the Lord comes into one's life, there is a definite and distinct change. If we know the Lord we should not hesitate to give our life's story. It tells of the God of Grace that worked on us and brought us to the point of personal salvation. Here is my life's story.
I. I Am Not What I Was
Eph. 2:2-12 gives us a picture of what we were before we were saved. Look at those verses and you will discover that we were dead, doomed, depraved and at a distance from God. That is how we were born into this world. What I was does not resemble what I am now that I received Christ into my heart. What I was before I was saved was not pleasing to God. What I was before I was saved caused Jesus Christ to have to come and die for sinners.
II. I Am Not What I Will Be
1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” We shall be like Him in that we will have a transformed and glorified body that will enable us to bask in and see Him in the fulness of His glory. Just as a fish is equipped to live in water, the glorified body will equip us to live in the full manifestation of the brightness of God forever.
III. I Am Not What I Should Be
See Eph. 4:1 which says, ”… Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” We are to live lives that are worthy of the high calling we have received. At my very best, I am not always what I ought to be. That is why I need the grace of our blessed and wonderful Christ. Christ still loves me and you even though we are not perfect and flawless in our daily living.
IV. I Am Not What I Would Be
Read Phil. 3:12,13. Paul wanted perfection for his life but He had not reached it yet. It is impossible to be practically perfect because we did not lose our sin nature when we were saved by God's grace. Daily we still have to battle with the flesh or the old nature. But in spite of the struggle and the battle Paul kept going toward the mark and the prize at the finish line.
V. By The Grace of God I Am What I Am
1 Cor. 15:10 says, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Since I am not always what should be and I am not always what I would be, God's grace has taught and transformed the true believer. The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust (Titus 2:12). The story of my life is the story of Jesus and His love for me. Oh, how I love Jesus because He first loved me (Jn. 10:17).