Author: Jon Wellman

Korean food is the best.

My mother-in-law is Korean. She has been visiting for the past couple of days. Every time she comes to visit, she cooks for us. Korean food is absolutely incredible, and she is a wonderful cook.

So, what could make a dinner of Korean food even better? This story…

At dinner table last night, Tony was telling us about his day at school. He told us that he got to tell his class about heaven. Naturally, this piqued our interest. We got him to explain what that meant.

He said that one of their spelling words for the week was “mansions.” He raised his hand and told his teacher that, when we get to heaven, we get a mansion. His teacher told him to stand up and tell the entire class what he said, and she actually wanted them to hear it (Side note: what a blessing for our son to have a Christian teachers in a public school!).

So he did. My eight-year-old son got to proclaim Jesus and heaven to his entire class.

If I stopped there, it’s an incredible story. But there’s more.

Then he said, Daddy, do you know how I know about that?

Because you told me.

That’s what it is all about.

My Bible reading in the book of Genesis this morning included the story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38). Not the most pleasant story, to say the least. While I was getting ready for work, I started thinking more about that story.

Then a light bulb switched on… If Judah had a choice, he probably would not have wanted that story included in the Word of God, read and memorized by billions of people.

If the Bible was being written right now, and my life was being recorded, what anecdote from my life would be written down for all to see?

Think about Peter. Jesus said He would build the church upon that Rock. Yet Peter had some magnificent missteps that are some of the most well-known stories in the Bible. David is another example. A man after God’s own heart, though a murderer and adulterer.

Am I so different? What deeds are in my past that would show anyone who read about them just how sinful I have been and continue to be?

The point is that God used these frail, fallen, sinful failures and their stories to show just how desperately we all need a Savior. A living Sacrifice. How wonderful it is to know that, in spite of whatever sin I commit, I am forgiven and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. If you know me, you know a sinner saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone. And my mistakes show how good my Savior is.

It is also a reminder that we CAN’T COAST. NOT ONE DAY. Vigilance is key. The grace of God is not license to disobey. We show our love for Jesus when we obey.

Our sin does NOT remove our usefulness. May our fallen tendencies proclaim the goodness of God, for He is faithful to complete every good work within His children.