Things I Have Learned

As I said earlier my parents were not Christian’s during my youth but they were hard-working, honest, decent, responsible people; good parents and good citizens. This was the model I grew up with and the model I aspired to. When I finally became a Christian, this was my starting point. I firmly believed myself to be a good moral person, a good responsible citizen, and I carried this deep seated belief into my adulthood and into my Christian faith. I realized that I wasn’t perfect and that I had sinned – “but I hadn’t sinned all that much.” So I recognized the Biblical truth that I wasn’t “good” and that I needed God’s forgiveness, but I still did not see myself as “bad” since, comparatively, I saw myself as a pretty good guy. I didn’t know it then, but this attitude would have to change - and it would not be easy!

We cannot come to a place of complete repentance, humility and full submission to God’s will until we recognize that there is no good in us except the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Our only righteousness is His righteousness. Any feeling to the contrary, on our part, is pride and detrimental to our relationship with the Lord. Although we may readily admit and repent our outwardly obvious sins; immorality, stealing, lying, etc., it is often very difficult for us to recognize our own internal sins like pride and greed.

My problem, and I suspect, the problem of some others, was that I was comparing myself to the wrong standard. Compared to the standards of the world I was a reasonable decent fellow. Compared to Jesus Christ I am like filthy rags. Although our Lord is exceedingly gracious and patient with us, bearing with us patiently and blessing us abundantly while waiting for us to see the truth regarding ourselves, ultimately we must face the truth and change. For me it has not come easily.

One thing I have learned in my seventy-three years of living is that we really control nothing. Oh! We like to think we are making our own choices and controlling our own lives, following our chosen path – but we’re really not.

Understand, I’m not trying to imply that we don’t have free-will. We do make choices – all too often the wrong ones. What I’m saying is, that in spite of our making choices many times each day, we are not really in final control of anything except the choice of saying “Yes” or “No” to Jesus’ offer of redemption. God knows the end, from the beginning, and is always several steps ahead of us. He knows all of our choices before we make them and has arranged events before us so that in spite of our rebellious natures, in the end we conform to His plan.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Rom. 8:29-30; NIV (italics mine).

Scripture reveals case after case of the Lord leading both the elect like; Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Paul, and steering the rebellious like; Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Judas Iscariot to carry out His plan of redemption. Even Satan ultimately ends up doing things that fulfill prophecy, like the execution of Jesus. No matter what created beings do or don’t do with regard to obeying the commands of God, ultimately all things work together for the good of those who love Him and in the end every action serves to carry out God’s plan of redemption.

But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50:19-20; NIV (italics mine).