Living With Purpose
Mistake prone people have a special place in the scheme-work of God’s plan. In fact, that’s why the cross of Jesus is so important. Faltering and flawed sinners are in great need of first being reconciled and forgiven. God takes pleasure in restoring you and me into something beautiful and useful. God never dismisses a repentant life. No matter what your sin or disobedience; He will renew and reinstate your life. If you’re feeling beyond help, there’s good news. Perhaps you’ve made a mistake, willfully disobeyed, or you’ve rebelled against God. The good news is that He’s not finished with you yet. Despite the devil and the judgmental attitudes of others, you are useful to Him.
There once was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, but in his weakness committed adultery and murder. By the standards of some this man should have been set on a shelf and never used again in regards to building God’s Kingdom. But God renewed him to teach and reach others through beautiful Psalms and hymns. This man was King David. Peter clearly denied Jesus not once, but three times, yet God reinstated him for service to the people as a great leader of the early church. Mark, Paul’s helper, defected and turned his back on the missionary efforts. But God restored his desire and passion to serve and with a greater motivation he wrote the second book of the New Testament. Jonah adamantly rebelled against God, yet God restored him for service.
For some reason, people, even Christians feel that God looked upon sin in a different way in biblical times than He does today. Let’s be reminded that God says, “For I, the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). And still another verse that clearly states where the Lord stands concerning the principle He taught is found in Hebrews 13:8 where it says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Simply put, God’s offer of forgiveness and restoration is always available. We must sincerely want to be forgiven and reject the judgmental notion that if we turn away from God’s “ideal” will we are forever disqualified. Every person that has ever drawn breath in this world is a flawed person. Everyone! But Satan likes to discredit our lives by putting suspicion in the minds of those who publicly see our lives. Satan also likes to muddle us into thinking that we are beyond salvage and doomed to second-rate Christians. Don’t believe it. I’ve heard many unique testimonies and as a result, perhaps those that are most affective in reaching others, are the people who have reached rock-bottom, yet found forgiveness in God and felt a touch of His love.
In life we don’t always receive second or third chances. Ask the kid who didn’t make the basketball team, the employee who embezzled company funds, the divorced person who got dumped, or the student who failed their final exam. The proof that God loves us more than anything is that He helps us with new opportunities if we’re willing to accept His way. If you desire the new start, a new beginning, and the rebirth to a newly committed life; God and His righteousness is the place to go. If others fail you, turn to Him and find He will not turn a deaf ear or a cold shoulder to the repentant soul. No matter how rebellious you were, God wants you. And many times He will restore you in the exact place where you failed. There may be consequences you have to live with due to your rebellious and wayward paths, but there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39).
No matter how many times you’ve failed. Change the results the next time if you get the chance. In the process you may have to make some big changes. It might mean changing a negative attitude to a positive one, moving to a new location, doing different leisure activities, and spending time with different people. God is close to the brokenhearted and He takes broken people and makes something useful out of their life. That’s what He does best. Decide to live with purpose and meaning like you never have before.
- This weekly column is written by Matt Dobson. A graduate of Florida State University, Univ. of West Florida, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, he is Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Jay, Florida and is a Captain (CPT) in the U.S. Army Reserves Chaplain Corp. Matt can be reached by email: rmdobson@liberty.edu. He welcomes your thoughts concerning faith, belief, and Christian living. Visit the Living With Purpose website at www.living-with-purpose.org.
