"Therefore, there is now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus
the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law
was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in
order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us,
who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans
8:1-4.)
I called my brother, Emery, today.
Some things he shared with me will help tell his story, a story of a life worth
our knowing. His once powerful frame took a vicious hit from a stroke
about fifteen years ago. So, today he has a license to wheel around an
electric wheel-chair. He eased by my lady and me yesterday in the worship
assembly and offered us the "left hand of fellowship". His
right side - hand, arm and leg
are no longer responsive to his will.
They once were. Emery
graduated in 1959 in San Angelo,
TX Central High School's first
graduating class. His senior year he set the Texas State High School
discus record with a throw of 179 feet - the second longest throw in the nation
that year. That state record stood for 21 years. A football
scholarship took him to Darrell Royal's Texas Longhorns the following years
of 1959-1963. His playing stats listed him at 6' 4",
weighing 235 lbs, playing defensive end and tackle.
One evening several years ago Emery, I
and a team of friends from church had just finished a softball game. As I
was placing my glove in the saddle-bags of a '73 Beemer 75/5 bike Emery had
something he wanted to talk about with me. The church had asked him in a recent
congregational recommendation to serve as a deacon. "That was
perhaps the most encouraging thing that has happened to me since my wife
and I have tried to get our lives back close to God...but I can't do
that,", he continued. "How come?" I asked. "Ted, I
wouldn't do anything that would cause reproach on the church. And, I've
got a 'past'". "So have I", I replied. "We all
have 'a past'. But that 's what's important - It's past.
That's not our life now." The rear-view
mirror reminds us of where we've been. But the windshield allows us
to see where we want to go, and how to get there. That's why the windshield
is much larger and more important than the rear-view mirror. We can
never get to where we want to go if we keep looking rearward,
instead of frontward!
"Yes", he replied,
"but my past is not the same as your past".
"Look, brother", I tried to reason, "You're off
the base 3 feet, and they tag you. What are you?"
"I'm out", my brother answered. "Right. But I'm off
the base 3 inches, and they tag me. What am
I?" "Well, you're out, too.," he answered. "OK,
the important thing is not whether it's you, or me; or, how
far off the base either of us might be. It's whether we are safe
on the base - or out since we're not on the
base". It's much like being in Christ Jesus, and staying there.
"But you don't know my past",
he continued. "You don't know some of the things I've
done". "No, I don't," I agreed. “I'm not the record
keeper. Brother, have you ever killed someone?" I
inquired. "I was accused of doing that," he answered.
"Well, did you?" I went on. "No. It wasn't
true," he said.
I then encouraged him to ponder
this: "The very first people to whom God sent his gracious
offer of forgiveness and salvation were the very ones who "with the help
of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross...Therefore let all
Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both
Lord and Messiah." (Acts 2:23, 36.) "When the people heard
this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,
'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...Those who accepted his message
were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that
day....And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved." (vs. 37, 38, 41, 47.) The brutal murderers of God's only Son
were the first to hear, and to accept, the message of God's
merciful love unto forgiveness and salvation from their most heinous sin.
Paul the apostle of Jesus, in his earlier
life was the Jewish patriot and leader who in good conscience arrested,
scourged and put to death Jesus' followers. (Cf. Acts 8:1-4;
22:1-3; 26:9ff; Gal. 1:13, 14.) "I thank Christ Jesus
our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy,
appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a
persecutor and a violent man I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and
unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along
with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy
saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very
reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ
Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who
should believe in him and receive eternal life.. Now to the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
Amen." (1 Timothy 1:12-17.)
Indeed, "...where sin increased,
grace increased all the more". (Romans 5:20.) "Therefore he is able
to save completely those who come to God through him, because he
always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25.)
"Emery", I asked, "The
bottom line is, 'Do you believe that Jesus' blood has power to forgive
every sin when we put our trust in Him, and obey Him?"
"I do", he replied, And I have no doubt that he still
does. That's why God calls his message the "gospel" ...the
'GOOD NEWS'. The blood of God's Son enables us to trust our
Savior's forgiveness and to look forward in hope unto eternal life. The rear-view mirror reminds,
"GUILTY". The windshield reveals, "GLORY".
Ted Kell
Brownwood,
Texas
