When people don't believe in God, trying to explain the love and forgiveness of Jesus isn't usually well received. Many people come to God in their need. Often the need has to be overwhelming before a person realizes that there is something, someone, outside of themselves that is an answer. When all else fails that's when many of us reach out to Jesus.
When we hit rock bottom in our lives, we come to realize who it is that is the real rock. For some people rock bottom comes from addictions, some the tragic loss of a loved one, some money woes, others failed marriages, infidelities, or betrayal. Those of us who have found God in other ways, as a child walking down an aisle or on a high school retreat or summer Bible camp should never look down on those who come to God in their greatest need.
As Jesus says in Luke 5:32, He says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. " And to those who have hit bottom, especially because of their sins, the Lord has this to say in Luke 7: 47
"Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
The realization that "Christ died for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8) can be overwhelming. The thought that Christ loved me that much is almost unbelievable. We grow up hearing that God loves us. But when we realize this as total truth, truth for me personally, that is when we, in profound humility, can finally accept Jesus as who He truly is. That is when our life is truly transformed. (For more on a transformed life click here.)
When the Prodigal Son hit rock bottom Luke 15 tells us he found himself feeding pigs and so hungry "he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything." (Luke 15:16) Once he realized his great need he returned to his loving father. Instead of relying on himself he relied on, his Rock. Instead of building his house, his life, on sand, on his own strength, the Prodigal built on the firm foundation of his father. His life built on sand had washed away but the solid rock of His father would never wash away.
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”" Matthew 7: 24-27
When we see those we love struggling it is hard not to reach out and protect them from reaching rock bottom. But many times this is what they actually need so that they can find their way to their Savior. Even the Prodigal Son's father did not stop him from reaching that lowest of the low places in his life.
These difficult times, these low places that we have been through and the love and graciousness of our Lord to bring us out of them, are OUR story. It is what Jesus tells us in Mark 5:19,
...“Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
People need to hear your story. And importantly, you don't need to forget it yourself. No one wants to repeat those rock bottom moments.
God reaches out to us even now. We don't have to be at rock bottom. If you haven't sought Him, now is the perfect time.
"Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55: 6-7
Comentarios