February 23 Becoming New! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The best example of a total conversion; is the story of Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus. The complete transformation of Saul, as he became, Paul, stands out as one of the greatest examples of the miraculous changing power of Jesus Christ and the ability to radically transform individuals into what God would have them be! There was a man, in our country community that had a seriously negative reputation. He was known for his anger, especially when he was drinking, and his abuse of his family! I was friends with his son, and we always played at my house because he never knew what shape his daddy would be in when he came home. One evening, as we sat around the supper table, I asked Daddy what was up with Mr. X. Daddy told me that he was having a hard time being himself. What? He is who he is and how is he having a hard time doing it? “Be Patient with him, he is going to be ok!” How could Daddy be so confident about his situation? He was a drunkard, a wife abuser, a grouch and a man that brought fear to the lives of everyone that he was involved with. Somehow, Daddy was the only one that Mr. X would even talk to, civil! I remember it well…it was a cold and rainy Sunday morning and there seemed to be something different about this day. The pre-church chatter was in full swing and people were milling about, catching up on the “Church Gossip,” and the door opened and in walked Mr. X and his wife, and my buddy. The entire church stopped! It seemed like an eternity before anyone spoke, and then it happened. One of the oldest members rose to her feet and made a “Beeline” to greet this special couple. She sat them with her and the chatter continued until Daddy climbed into the pulpit and began the service. The sermon was complete, the “altar call” was in full swing and then it happened! Mr. X began that long walk to the altar and took my Daddy by the hand and they bowed down at the altar and they began to pray. They were bent down at the altar, for what seemed like two days and, finally, they stood up and faced the crowd. Tears were pouring from Mr. X‘s face and Daddy had the biggest smile on his face. “Jay has come today, confessing his sins and asking his Savior to forgive him and to change his life!” Mr. X, at that moment, had his own “Damascus Road Experience” of the transforming power of God’s Grace! Long story, short! Mr. X became a new man and he became one of the strongest advocates for God’s Grace and Healing and he became the best husband and father and friend that anyone has ever had. How? What happened? Then, Daddy revealed that he had been praying for Mr. X and he had encouraged his prayer partners to concentrate on Mr. X and the Holy Spirit made it happen! The lesson for today is simple! We are to Love one another and we are to pray for one another and we are to have a lot more love than we do judgment! Every one of us, come to salvation, the very same way! We come to Salvation through the selfless act of Love and Grace that happened on that old Cross and because of God’s Love for us! We observe the chaos and the raging sin that is in this world; let us commit to prayer for individuals and never, ever stop praying for them! Mr. X chose to claim the transforming power of God and he lived that “New Life” until God called him home! Amazingly, Mr. X’s son, my friend, became a Missionary in Central America and continued to share Jesus and His transforming Power until God called him home! Forget the politics and chaos and the death of Common Sense…Concentrate on what is real and edifying and eternal! I choose to make a difference, one soul at a time! Thank You God for the message of change and for the Forgiving Grace of Jesus. Serving God will bring heavy opposition, so, I repeat… NOT TODAY SATAN, NOT TODAY! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS ABSOLUTELY YET TO BE!!!