I just was scared that you didn't love me. And I didn't think you could because of how ugly I am. I should've known better. That's not who you are. You took one look at me and still said you'd seen worse. And somehow, when I'm around you, I don't feel ugly at all.
-Kyle, Beastly
Over the past few weeks, my life has been an absolute whirlwind. I am constantly on the move; or better yet, on the run. Somewhere in the midst of my crazy life, I have had the chance to really think about how I am. I constantly write about myself and lessons I have been taught, but I never write about why I am the way I am or where I have been.
This is that blog.
I was born in Tuscaloosa, the City of Champions. Forty miles southeast, is my hometown. Our two red lights and twenty churches is as close to championship status as we get. As a child, I was raised how a majority of people in the south were raised; church and little league, Friday night football and chasing fireflies, front porch sitting and country living. That is my life and I love it. As a preteen/young teenager, my life was a constant storm. At times, I felt as if I was drowning. I found myself hopeless. I vividly remember reading the story of Job and how he lost everything he had, he almost lost his life, for being faithful to God. I remember crying out to God for help. I remember feeling as if my pleads hit the ceiling and fell back down on me like an unbearable punishment for a crime that I thought I did not commit. I did not understand sin, and more importantly, I did not understand how to escape it.
“All of us have become like the one who is unclean, and all our righteous (good) acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” -Isaiah 64:6
As a child, I had the false idea that evil did not reign on Earth. I did not know that Satan inhabited the world. But, he does (1 Peter 5:8). When we accept the theory that Evil is in Hell, we accept a lie. The reason for the brokenness and pain of life is not caused by the hands of God, but by the hands of Satan. On our own, we cannot escape evil. On our own, we are hopeless and cannot be freed. We are, by nature, held captive by darkness. Yes, that’s a depressing thought. It is also a truth that has been ignored and pushed under the rug.
Please, let me share good news.
By nature, we are bad people. None of us are good, not even one. We have all sinned and deserve punishment by death. We all deserve eternity in Hell. All of us. Me, you, our best friends and family. Everyone. But God, the creator of Heaven and Earth loved us enough that He couldn’t bare the thought of us having no way out.
Picture a mountain, on top of the mountain is god(s)/God/Heaven/Nirvana/Paradise or nothingness- whatever you believe. Along all sides of the mountain are trails, all trails leading to the same point. Many modern day religions and people believe in this idea of “spirituality”. What if the God at the top came down to the bottom and traveled with us up the mountain, ensuring that we found the right path and made it to the top? All people would agree that would be awesome... He did! Let me introduce you to Jesus*
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” -John 3:16, 17
God created humanity in his image, and humanity was deceived by Satan and fell. Sin breaks the heart of God, so he sent his Son to redeem us; a fallen people that do not deserve his forgiveness or goodness. He did all of this because he loves us. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, raised by a carpenter, and lived the perfect life. During his ministry he preach hope and punishment if continuing in sin. He was put on trial and found guilty of blasphemy against God (his Father). The Roman soldiers took a blameless man, beat him until an unrecognizable point in the streets, nailed him to a cross, and mocked his name. While on that cross, Jesus prayed that God not hold these crimes against his murderers (Luke 23:34). Three days later, Jesus Christ rose from the dead; defeating (spiritual) death forever. He came to save us all- black, white, brown, yellow; man, woman, child; Jew, Gentile, Atheist, Hindu, Agnostic, Mormon, Buddhist; gay, straight, bisexual; criminal and saint. We are all equal. We all need to be rescued. We all have hope, only through Christ.
Salvation and freedom does not end at the acceptance of Christ and his sacrifice. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder!”(James 2:19) The passage continues to discuss the importance of works and faith together- as one. Being good and working hard are both admirable things, but behavior modification will not get you to Heaven. Nobody says it better than Jesus himself, “On that day (Judgement Day) many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, your workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:22) Honestly, that’s a scary thought. But I think it has never been more relevant. I can picture on that day, people pleading, “Lord, I was a good person. I never killed another. I never went to jail.” or “Lord, didn’t I volunteer at church enough? Didn’t I serve on enough committees? Did we not build buildings and host events for our youth in your name?”. All of that is worthless if we are not spreading the gospel and giving the people we serve the truth.
And the truth is, the majority of this world are currently on the wide road that leads to Destruction. Destruction is a less scary word used in the place of Hell. The Word of God tells us that only those that keep His commands love Him. Knowing the answers to religious questions or checking a box for a religious preference will not cut it. The Lord says the “religion” he accepts is caring for orphans, widows and not being polluted by the world (James 1:27).
I believe we choose to overlook some of the most important scriptures, the not-so-pretty scriptures.
“Now the worlds of the flesh are evident: sexual immortality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry (worship of not only multiple gods, but objects/people. ex=sports, significants, jobs, self) and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19, 20)
Many people see read these verses and get angry because it seems that God condemns their lifestyles. God is a God of love and forgiveness, but he also wants all of us. He cannot look on sin. Yes, followers of Christ mess up just as much as everyone else. Yes, I sin; I’m the chief of sinners (Paul actually said that, but it works for me too). No, it is never too late to find freedom from sin. No, God does not care who you are or where you’ve been. His arms are open. God wants to free you from the darkness that infiltrates our lives. Please, give God a chance. Talk to me, talk to someone.
At the beginning of this blog, I referenced a quote from one of my favorite movies, Beastly. The main character, Kyle (the Beast), feels ugly and unloveable in the presence of Lindy (Belle). Kyle’s character was the average Mr. High School who gained popularity by the belittlement of others. He didn’t believe Lindy could love him because of how retched he is, physically and spiritually. But, after spending time with her, he learns that is not her character. She loves even the most unlovable of people. That’s how God is for us. Previously, I mentioned the heartbreak and darkness in my life. I felt like God could not love me because of the person I was. Sometimes I feel like God can’t love me because of the person I sometimes am. These are all lies.
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8
The message of the gospel is not how to get to Heaven or how to be good. Often Christianity is a list of rules to follow. Being a follower of Christ is a step followed by a process. It is not a one time decision. Everyday, we make the decision to follow man or God, the road to destruction or everlasting life. Once a person makes the choice to be a follower of Christ, you cannot be snatched from God’s hand; true salvation is forever. Life will not be easy, that’s guaranteed in Scripture. But we keep running the race to get the Prize. (Philippians 3:14)
It’s never too late to choose Life. It’s never too late to choose God.
*This conversation was written in Radical by David Platt
