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Content type: Sermon Poem / Prayer Service / Tribute Incomplete Biography
Body: Today’s message is a message of faith, hope, love, mercy, and grace, and a miracle. All mixed in with a personal testimony. A testimony of how a young born again Christian lost his way, But God… Seven years ago tomorrow I was hospitalized. Diagnosed with cirrhosis (liver disease) and esophageal varices. Both, life threatening. But God… “Once cirrhosis is present, your liver’s regeneration becomes very limited. That’s why in most cases, cirrhosis can’t be reversed.” But God… “Patients who have had one episode of bleeding from esophageal varices have a 60 – 80% chance of rebleeding within one year after the initial episode; approximately one third of further bleeding episodes are fatal”. But God… As a young teenager I finally gave in to God’s calling and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. I don’t remember my exact age, but I went to the alter with tears rolling down my cheeks and gave this life to the One who died for me. Soon thereafter I was baptized. Submerged in my great uncle’s pond by our pastor. While my family and loved ones witnessed. I was raised in a Christian home, where church was the norm, where the 10 commandments were observed, where we loved our neighbors as ourselves’ and where we said our prayers. Proverbs 22;6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” My mother had organized a bible study in our home for the children in our community. And as well as I can remember it was successful, attended regularly by around a dozen or so local kids. As I grew older being a Christian became less and less cool. And when I got to high school I began slowly but surely growing further and further away from my savior, and walking more and more with the ways of the world. After graduating high school I attended Appalachian State University. Graduating with a bachelors of science degree and a minor in physics. While there, growing further still from my Lord. During these years I developed a taste, and what I thought was a need for alcohol. The drinking made me feel like I fit in. The drinking helped with my self esteem. The drinking began to be a habit. After college, the drinking, as one would expect continued. It became a crutch. It became a way to deal with certain issues or problems. It became the norm. It became a problem. My addiction to alcohol affected every aspect of my life, family, work, and ultimately my health. On February 22, 2014, some 40 plus years after being born again, I agreed to go to the emergency room. The night before, my grandson, sitting on Pappaw,s lap, asked “Pappaw Why is your face yellow?” This my friends broke my heart. Arriving at the hospital the line was long. But after triage I was pretty much moved to the front because my condition was so dire. Side note; I managed to sneak in a small bottle of liquor (my drink of choice). Which by the way never got drank, and also by the way was the last bottle of liquor that was in my hands. I have said all of this to get to the good stuff. The faith. The hope. The love. The mercy. The grace. And of course the miracle. The But God…Part. NO MATTER WHAT CONDITION YOU FIND YOURSELF IN GOD CAN CHANGE THE SITUATION. There was no way, *but God*made a way. The word “but” in Scripture often introduces the message of the gracious and compassionate intervention of God. This simple term captures the nature of our God. He redeems, resurrects, and makes all things new. All seems lost and then we hear, “but God.” He intervenes. He saves. Two little words can change every man, woman and child here on the face of the earth. Two very simple words. “BUT GOD!” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said this about these two little words “These two words, in and of themselves, in a sense contain the whole of the gospel of Christ.” Ephesians 2; 1-5 1.Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2.You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil-the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3.All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we are subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4.BUT GOD is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5.that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) IN THIS SECOND CHAPTER OF EPHESIANS THE INSPIRED WRITER SETS BEFORE US A MARVELOUS CONSTRAST. IN THE FIRST THREE VERSES HE DESCRIBES OUR WRETCHED STATE APART FROM THE GRACE OF GOD. HE PILES ONE PHRASE UPON ANOTHER TO PICTURE OUR LOST AND UNDONE CONDITION. WE WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS. WE WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE UNSEEN WORLD. THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE. THEN VERSE FOUR OPENS WITH TWO WORDS THAT SPELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BETWEEN SIN AND SALVATION, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL....BUT GOD. SIN WAS BLACK, BUT GOD CAME IN AND GOD IS LIGHT. SATAN WAS POWERFUL, BUT GOD CAME IN, AND GOD IS ALMIGHTY. MAN WAS LOST, BUT GOD CAME IN AND GOD FOUND MAN. MAN WAS UNDER WRATH, BUT GOD CAME IN AND GOD IS LOVE. AND THEN THERE WAS THE DAY OF ALL DAYS WHEN MAN WALLOWED IN SIN WITHOUT A SAVIOR, GROPED IN DARKNESS WITHOUT LIGHT, STRUGGLED IN BONDAGE WITHOUT REDEMPTION, BUT GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE AGAIN. THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, THE SINLESS FOR THE SINNERS, GOD FOR MAN. HISTORY HAS ALWAYS TURNED A CORNER WITH THOSE BLESSED WORDS...BUT GOD. FOR IN THAT DARKEST HOUR JUST BEFORE DAY LIGHT EVERYTHING MAY SEEM TO BE LOST, BUT GOD IS COMING IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON, TO RECEIVE FROM THE WORLD HIS OWN. AS YOU LOOK BACK OVER YOUR LIFE, I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE OCCASION TO THANK GOD FOR THE UNNUMBERED TIMES WHEN EVERYTHING HAD FAILED, BUT GOD CAME TO THE RESCUE. HEALTH HAD BROKEN, BUT GOD. YOUR FRIENDS HAD DECIEVED YOU, BUT GOD. BUSINESS HAD FAILED, BUT GOD. LOVED ONES HAD PASSED, BUT GOD. AWFUL INDEED WAS THE GUILT OF SIN, BUT GOD SENT HIS SON TO BE OUR SUBSTITUTE, SIN HAS ABOUND, BUT GOD HAS SEEN TO IT THAT GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND. AS IF IN SIMPLE FAITH WE TURN FROM SIN TO THIS SAVIOR AND RECEIVE HIM, THEN THE REST OF THIS PRECIOUS PASSAGE BECOMES OUR OWN. BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED AND HAS RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS, THAT IN THE AGES TO COME, HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE, IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. NO HUMAN MERIT COULD EARN THIS BLESSING, NO WORKS OF THE FLESH COULD PURCHASE THIS TREASURE, FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. HOW TO BE BLESSED IS TO BE ABLE TO SAY...ONCE I WAS BLIND, BUT GOD TOUCHED ME. ONCE I WAS LOST...BUT GOD FOUND ME. ONCE I WAS UNDER WRATH...BUT GOD LOVED ME. ONCE I WAS UNDER GUILT...BUT GOD FORGAVE ME. ONCE I WAS DEAD...BUT GOD GAVE ME LIFE. ONCE I WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, BUT GOD TURNED ME AROUND AND NOW I WALK AS HE WALKED. ONCE I WALKED ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE UNSEEN WORLD, BUT GOD STOPPED ME AND NOW I FOLLOW THE PRINCE OF PEACE. ONCE I HAD MY MANNER OF LIFE IN THE LUST OF THE FLESH AND MIND,...BUT GOD GAVE ME A NEW LIFE, AND CHRIST LIVETH IN ME. ONCE I WERE BY NATURE THE CHILD OF WRATH, BUT GOD HAD BEGOTTEN ME INTO THE FAMILY OF LOVE. BUT GOD… My stay in the hospital lasted for seven days. The first days were critical. I am pretty sure some doctors, some family, and some of my friends thought (although amongst themselves) that I would not make it out alive. When you have lots and lots of visitors it kind of makes you wonder about your mortality, and I had lots of visitors. But God… He gave me peace, He gave me comfort, and I believe the only one other than God himself that was 100% sure that I would survive and re-gain my health was me. I can’t explain the feeling that I had, and I really didn’t think about it then, but I knew, I had no doubts. I was going to live, I was going to be okay. God was not done with me yet! Not much of my stay in the hospital do I remember very well. But there was one night, evidently something serious was going on with me, (I didn’t ask many questions, only answered many, many, questions). There was, what I interpreted to be a nurse sitting beside my bed. This woman, I can still see her face, was talking to me and I could never explain the feeling that she gave me completely. But I felt so much peace. So much love. So much comfort. It was as if she was my mother. When she left I missed her so much. I never saw her again. When I asked about her no one knew what I was talking about. But I am convinced that she was an angel sent to my bedside from God! Finally discharge day. To those of you that have had extended days in the hospital I am sure you are aware of this tedious drawn out process. During the waiting one of the nurses was in the room. I was answering questions, and I asked him his opinion on something that my family and myself was struggling with. Everyone (less myself, and one vote for it is up to you) felt that I needed to go straight to rehab from the hospital, in fear that I would drink again. I knew in my heart that those days were over. So I thought I would get his opinion on the matter. His response “It depends on how much faith you have”. Well that hit me like a ton of bricks, and I will never forget that. Though I don’t remember my response, if any, my mind began to race and I didn’t stop thinking about that for some time. Does faith have a measure, a little or a lot? Or is faith just faith? You have it or you don’t? I am not a theologian, but at that moment, on this situation I had what I interpret as just plain FAITH! I was able to go directly to my home and began my recovery. This recovery period took well over a year, maybe two. But God… He struck me down, He put me in my place, and He let me know He yet had plans for me! My long lost relationship with my Lord and Savior would very soon be whole again. No matter our struggles. No matter our disobedience. No matter what, our God will never leave our side. As soon as I could walk up those steps I began attending church again, attending Bible study, reading God’s word, and working on being more Christ-like. As Mark Tope said to me one day; “There is John, a walking miracle”. God answered your prayers, my family’s prayers, and my friend’s prayers. And worked a miracle on me, His creation that He is not done with yet! BUT GOD!!! A Martyr’s Measure of Commitment "I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, chained visions, worldly talking, cheap living and warped goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognised, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labour with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my read is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have prayed up and paid up for the cause of Jesus Christ. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear!" A note found in the office of a young Pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ. Found in ’the signature of Jesus’ by Brennan Manning BUT GOD…
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