The Glory of God

Jesus saved me from destruction. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word WAS GOD!!!

After all I have done in my life, wrongs and rights, nothing compares to the mercy shown to me after learning of what was given so freely by God Almighty. His very own Son, in effect, He Himself as a human on this earth strove to give an example of how to live a pure and enriched life. By living one Himself, giving to those in need, healing those who ailed, blessing those who believed in Him, and changing the world by spreading the word that He has come to save us, He has set that example. On that historical day when He bore the cross, was lashed with whips and cried out for His Father, Christ was there for ME.

In my youth, I was somewhat of a "wild child." I drank to excess. I was inexcusable in my language. I was disrespectful and combatant toward authority. My sins directly disobeyed His Commandments. I did things that are direct qualifiers for His grace. Before I was saved, I had no idea of the number of sins I was committing. Now, after having read the Bible, and having been taught many of His lessons, I still fall short of the Glory of God. I accept that. We all have made mistakes, do make mistakes, and will make mistakes. But it is only through acceptance and the power of Christ's ultimate message of sacrifice - His own life - that I have come to understand salvation comes only through faith. People do not change people. God changes people by working within them.

For me, there has been a drastic transformation from the tense party girl from my younger years to the woman that I am today. I used to blame people for my lot in life when there were so many things I couldn't control. It was the evil step-father's fault. It was the strict boss's fault. His fault, her fault. And although I did go through a lot of abuse and hardship, as we all do, it's important to remember that even if those moments of self-pity do catch me on down days, I do not have to live there in that pit of destruction forever. I can purposely think of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me and I can thank God for my salvation and experiences. I am thankful to God for the way I am. No one else is like me, and I am happy to be uniquely made, with an incomparable past I can call my own.

This journey of becoming a Spartan for Christ began with accepting Him as my Savior. It continued with my hunger to hear His Word, learn his lessons, listen when He speaks, and above all else do what He tells me to do (sometimes not right away, but when I have come to the end of myself.) I'm growing in this area. Occasionally, I may not like what He has to say, but hard as it is, I to do His will anyway. After all, the Good Book says He'll give me double for my trouble. Aside from that, I feel satisfaction in my heart when I know I have done something worthwhile that He has instructed me to do.

My lifelong journey to accomplish the dream He has instilled in my heart matches the gift He has given me. To do nothing with it would be casting away an "assignment" if you will. I believe deep inside every person is this same design, only paired with their own talents. My own design for life was given to me by Him. It was revealed to me a little late in life, perhaps, but I had to go through some things before I was ready. I had to be "broken." I had to be prepared for the inevitable rejections that I face as I learn to sharpen my skills. I had to become willing. God has shown me persistence.

That's the whole reason Jesus came for us. He came to fill the void created by our sin, and the sin cast upon us by others. That's why my heart fills up so much when I think of Him. He lived a sinless life to be an example for us but knew that as humans we couldn't be perfect. That's why He went to the cross to make atonement for the sins of the world. He loves us that much! "He that knew no sin became sin..."

When I pray and ask Him to, God forgives my sins. I have forgiven myself for my past, because if God can forgive, who am I not to? Today, I am ready. I am ready to take on whatever assignment He has in store for me. God's kind and compassionate treatment - the very definition of the word "mercy" - has brought me to planes I never knew existed. Today, I live in and for the Glory of God.