Grace Church

For most of us, it’s not hard to find something in common with Biblical characters. We are, after all, all human and share the same hopes, fears and choices in life. What I was surprised to discover is how much my own experiences have mirrored those of the Apostle Paul’s.

Like Paul, I grew up in church. I eventually heard of Jesus. I thought I knew all the rules and how to play the game. Because of those beliefs, like Paul, I was destructive (except for the whole stoning people to death thing…). Like Paul, I discovered the reality of Jesus and the truth of his sacrifice quite suddenly (December 3, 1999). Like Paul, once I gained this knowledge, I was suddenly and quite unexpectedly whisked away (July 4, 2000 I moved from Arizona to North Carolina; Paul went to Arabia). Like Paul, without that sudden change of scenery, I never would have gained the wisdom and knowledge I have now. And, like Paul, I was caught up in the daily details of life and could not know how important those events would be until I was able to look back and see the whole picture.

You see, just like the characters in the Bible, we have no idea what our true value is or what God has in store. There are three lessons we can take away from Galations 1:13-17: first, God will take anybody (Phew, I’m in). Second, if God could take Paul, a man who was determined to wipe out the early church (via sanctioned murder, mind you), and use him to spread the Gospel farther than it had ever been before, what could he do with you? Think about it. The worst thing you probably did today was 50 in a 45.

Lastly, no matter how uninteresting, unimportant or stagnant you think your life is, take heart. Like Paul, and like myself, you have been set apart since the womb and called through His grace. And we do not yet know what our stories will look like. But when you do reach a point where you can look back, and see the whole picture, see God’s work, be sure to share your story with others. You never know the impact it will have.