Author:
Steve Popoola
In
recent times, I have felt the need to pause in my spiritual walk and reflect on
the basics of the Christian faith. It is so easy for us to be so preoccupied
with today’s events and tomorrow’s aspirations and so forget
certain fundamentals of the Christian faith.
One area
we so often forget is where we started from. Imagine an armed robber, a
prostitute, a drug addict or any other person under the control of a vice. Ask
yourself the question; what makes me different from this person?
“That
at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel ,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh
by the blood of Christ.” –Ephesians 2:12-13
What
does this mean? It simply means that there was a time when you and I were just
like that robber, prostitute or drug addict. Oh yes, you could say, “I
never stole and I never used my body for commercial purposes” I thank God
for your life but I wish to let you know, that in the eyes of God, you were no
better than these people and if you had died in your sin, you would have faced
the same judgment reserved for this set of people who remained unrepentant
until death.
Remembering
where we once were, brings forth feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving, for
what God did for us through our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to be a
Christian, to be called a child of God and a friend of Christ. Today, many
robbers, prostitutes, drug addicts and even murderers have been truly converted
and saved. They share a common destiny with us; their past has been wiped away
with the splash of blood, never to be used as evidence of guilt against them
anymore.
It is
because we fail to remember, that we are quick to judge others, condemning them
when God is working out their salvation, calling for their heads when God
desires that they should be saved.
I was
having a discussion with an aunt who had just given her life to Christ. She had
recently been duped by fraudsters. It was obvious that she had been doing a lot
of thinking concerning the incident and the question she asked me confirmed
this.
“If
people had been duping others all their lives and they eventually give their
lives to Christ, will they be forgiven?” I gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Yes, they would be forgiven if they are truly repentant” I
replied. I could see that she did not like this. As far as she was concerned,
they should rot in hell.
I went
ahead to explain the mind of God concerning sinners to her. The Bible says we
have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). The weight
of sin is measured equally; no sin is rated higher or lower than another. The
effect and repercussion of particular sins on man may be different but the
judgment of sin is the same.
The next
time you see that man or woman with evidence of sinfulness written all over him
or her, do not look at them with the eye of judgment, rather, look at them
through the loving eyes of God. After all, we are all sinners saved by grace.
Steve
Popoola
©
Biblepraise, 2003.
Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and The
founder of Biblepraise Fellowship Online. He lives in
London where he works in the IT industry as a
software developer. He has served in various capacities as Teacher, singer and
writer in the body of Christ. He currently serves as assisting minister in his
local church as well as helping out in the Music Ministry. He also speaks at
invited chrurches/forums. He can be reached through His website http://www.biblepraise.org
“Now
thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” -2 Corinthians
2:14
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