“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)
Do you consider yourself to be a good driver? Of course you do. Everyone does. In fact, the roadways would be much safer and driving wouldn’t seem like such a tremendous hassle if everyone else just simply drove the same way we do. We all have this attitude. Don’t believe me? Test my theory. Sometime today, just casually ask a handful of people that you know: “Hey. Do you consider yourself a pretty good driver?” And then just listen to their responses. Some might even give you reasons why they feel that way. And maybe they are indeed good drivers. But the more people you ask, the more likely it is that some of them aren’t being honest.
One evening during Bible study at a local prison, I began by asking everyone in attendance, “How many of you here consider yourself to be a good person?” All but one person raised their hands. I asked the one guy, “You don’t think you’re a good person?” He replied, “Good people generally don’t spend half their lives in and out of prison. So there’s no use in me lying about it.”
There were 20 guys in the Bible study that evening. Turns out that only one of them saw himself as he really was. But there’s good news for that guy – that’s where salvation starts. So there’s hope for that guy. I really hope he keeps coming.
But what might happen if you went inside any church in America on Sunday morning and asked 100 people that same question? Chances are that 99 of them would raise their hands too. We all have that attitude. We may have an occasional issue with anger, resentment, lust, greed, or getting along with our neighbors. But deep down? We’re really good people. We’re just often misunderstood. That’s all.
But had you asked another guy who was familiar with prison life, I’m pretty sure he would not have raised his hand. Although the apostle Paul was wrongly accused and imprisoned, he knew how sinful he was in the light of God’s righteousness and grace. He didn’t sugarcoat it, despite having every right to argue for his freedom because he was being unjustly held.
“I am the worst sinner of them all. But I was given mercy, so that Christ could reveal his patience without limit.” Paul understood that he wasn’t a sinner because he sinned, but rather he sinned because he was a sinner. And only until he had a personal encounter with Jesus would he recognize who he was and what he was to become.
So no, I’m not the greatest driver. Nor am I nearly as good of a person as I think I am. I do believe that I’m not the person I used to be, and that’s only because of God’s patience and mercy. But good? Jesus told the rich young ruler that there is only one who is good. And I’m not Him.
I’m just a sinner saved by God’s redeeming grace, and trying to be more like Jesus as He patiently leads me home.
Former Blackout Artist 