A Life in Exile

Everyone has a past, secrets that are tucked far away in a closet. Some of us don’t have the luxury of being able to hide our mess—it’s out there for all to see. Our sins not only have come back to haunt us, but they follow us around, like the Scarlet Letter or a billboard.

Shame and blame are the name of the game.

This is the trap of Satan. We’re lured into what we thought was the good life or a discrete indiscretion by the lie that no one will know. What will it hurt? Just try it. You can quit anytime you want. You deserve it.

The lies are endless where he’s concerned and we’ve all been trapped after putting our toes in the water. It’s amazing how quickly the shallow part of the lake or ocean becomes too deep to keep afloat. Once we’re caught, we try to find a way out, but Satan is not in the business of throwing out life preservers. Nope, he prefers to watch us drown, and he helps us sink by throwing shame and blame to add to our own weight of sin.

• “You should have known better.”
• “You should not have listened to your friend.”
• “You just had to buy one more lottery ticket.”
• “Didn’t you know you’d get caught?”
• “She’ll never take you back now.”
• “You might as well give up and give in.”

Like the lies, the words of shame and blame are endless and overwhelming.

Christ came for sinners.

There was this guy who had gone into that deep water. At first appearances, you wouldn’t think of him as a big sinner. No, he was as strait-laced as they come, religious to a fault, but he used his religion to persecute people who had chosen to follow a radical rabbi. He saw them as the sinners since they were clearly (in his eyes) breaking the Law of Moses. Without consulting the God he claimed to follow, he started going after these people. He went to neighboring countries, even, to make sure they weren’t defiling the Jews living in other areas. If he found them, he would have them imprisoned and killed. He dragged men and women from their homes. No one was safe from this enraged fanatic.

That is until Jesus stopped him in his tracts. Literally. Saul was on the road to Damascus, determined to clear the city of anyone following The Way when a bright light blinded him and a voice from heaven spoke to him. That voice belonged to Jesus Christ, and it changed his life.

What happened to that fanatic? He joined The Way, becoming one of the countless followers of that radical rabbi, who came to this earth, died on the cross to redeem us from the curse of sin, and rose to make a life preserver possible for all who reached out in faith to him.

Saul, now known as Paul, talked about it this way in a letter to his friend, Timothy:

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 CSB)

We’re all the worst.

Paul saw himself as the worst of sinners. Why? Because he had actively and aggressively worked to rid the world of Christianity (before it was known as such). It’s funny, when you think about it, that Paul thought this was an achievable goal when those who thought putting the ring leader, Jesus, to death would take care of the matter. If they didn’t win that game, what would make him think he could go up against God on this one?

Anyway, still, Paul thought he was the all-time worst sinner. Some of you may dispute that. I mean, maybe you’ve done some pretty bad stuff. I have too. Yes, I know, it’s hard to believe, but I’ve got my own share of stories, and they’re not pretty. I’m not proud of them. I feel shame every time I think about what I’ve done in this life that dishonored God—even when I called myself a Christian. So, like Paul, it’s not our religious status that matters.

Why is Paul not the worst? Because when you think about God the Father, the Holy God of all Creation, none of us can stand in his presence. One speck of unholiness, unrighteousness—of sin, will block our ability to be welcomed into his Kingdom. So, Paul may think he’s the worst, but in reality, we’re all right there with him. Why? Because what the sin is doesn’t matter, it’s what the sin does—it blots our record. That “little” lie, that first act of cheating on a test, that disobedience to your mom or dad—they’re all just as bad as killing Christians in the name of religion.

I’m not saying that Paul wasn’t a bad guy, when he was acting as Saul. He was. I’m just saying that his sin doesn’t let us off the hook. That’s why I like focusing on the later part of what he wrote to his friend. Because Jesus was willing and able to save Saul, he’s showing us that he’s just as willing and able to save us. “Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.” If he was patient with Saul, he’s patient with me and you, if we’re willing to believe and turn from sin by giving him control over our lives.

I can testify that I’m better off for knowing Christ. The sins of my past have no hold over me. I grabbed hold of his life preserver and never let go. I’m no longer treading water, I’m in the boat of the Captain of the Seas. Saul did that, and he became the greatest evangelist and missionary the world has ever known.

Don’t let Satan’s game of shame and blame keep pulling you under. No one is unsavable. Grab the life preserver that Christ is throwing to you today—yes, you, the worst of sinners! He’s got patience enough to pull us all into his boat and give us purpose and hope for all eternity. Oh, what a Savior!

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on sin and salvation: Gems from Genesis: Chapter 14, Weeding, The Sin of Self, Fringe Benefits, The Requirement.