FROM THE PASTOR
Have you ever wondered why something happens in your life? I don’t mean only in times of tragedy or even in times of euphoria… I mean have you ever just sit and asked yourself, “Why, why me”? I was watching a bass tournament on Saturday and repeatedly a fisherman thanked Jesus for each bass he caught. I have always been fascinated by sports figures who thank Christ for a home run or a touchdown, or, as in this case, catching the bass that put them into the money at a bass tournament. Now, don’t misunderstand me, God deserves praise for every aspect of our lives and it does bring honor to Christ when He is publicly proclaimed. And I’m not trying to be sacrilegious in my questioning. That’s not my intent.
But I had to ask. “Does God favor one individual over another?” Especially if there are several Christians competing against each other. Does He weigh out which Christian in the competition is more deserving of His favor? Does He decide for one Christian over the other because one Christian has been more obedient or more vocal for Hm than the other?
I used to play softball on the church softball team before my knees went out. We played other churches in our area that I knew were Bible believing, Bible preaching churches. Sometime we won and sometimes we lost. Why? Was it because God chose one equally faithful church over the other? And if so, why? In all honesty, I don’t know why one wins and the other loses. In fact, I don’t even know if God is into sports or if the end result had anything to do with God choosing at all.
It was 62 years ago that I accepted Christ as my Savior. In those years I’ve attended so many Sunday School classes, discipleship classes. sit under so may sermons, and attended so many seminars I couldn’t begin to count them. I’ve attended on-line classes, seminar extension classes, Bible School classes, and Seminary classes. I’ve had the privilege to be in vocational ministry for over 22 years and there are still so many things I don’t know about God it boggles my mind. That’s because God is so vastly above any of us that it is impossible for us to even comprehend His wonders. But I do know, and I am confident, that there was a choice God made.
Ephesians 1:4 (NASB)
4 … He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
So today, once again, I find myself forced to ask, “Why, why me?” You see, I still don’t fully understand the choosing of God in regards to salvation. I wasn’t perfect when He chose me… to my discredit, I’m still not even close. Which is exactly why I am so thankful that I have the imputed righteousness of Christ to rely on. I struggle every day with the flesh. The world still tries to draw me in. And to be perfectly honest… at times I fail and its only God’s grace that picks me up.
If you’re a child of His (meaning, not just believing God exists or being born into this world but. that you are born-again) He chose you as well. It was not based on your merit or perfection but on the fact that He drew you to Him. And He should get the credit for that with open praise.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Pastor Larry
