you once were the same

I saw him first when I glanced at my rearview mirror. A large gray pickup truck swerving bully-like through the construction traffic behind me. Then all I could see was his grill as he laid on his horn inches from my back bumper. Then beside me in a flurry of obscene gestures and lurching in front of me with such a change in speed that I had to brake hard to keep from plowing into him.

Spending our life in malice and envy,

 hateful, hating one another

Then I saw it. Fixed prominently to the back of his truck was the most graphic image of a naked woman. I’ve never seen something that pornographic on a vehicle before. I blushed deep to think of so many people around me seeing what I was. I felt as if all women were being stripped of their dignity by that picture. I felt as if somehow my own worth had just been ripped away.

 Disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures.

You see, I know that man without knowing him. He thinks he is strong but he is weak. For all of his bluster, he is powerless. Bound skin-breaking tight with the chains of his anger and lust. Broken by his desires. He does not call the shots in his life. He is no free man. His pride and passion rule heavy-handed over him. And I know this man’s end; It is horrific. Sin only doles out one wage.

For we also once were foolish ourselves…

Then something clicked inside me. Like a cog that at long last had shifted into place. I know this man because I know myself. I know the sure fall in temptation. The pursuing of pleasures only to find that I cannot stop. The realization that the attitudes, and actions I thought put me in control were actually my masters, manipulating me like a limp puppet on a string.

But when the kindness of God our Saviour and His love for mankind appeared,

 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds…

but according to His mercy.

I know what it’s like to be rescued from that. I even know what it’s like to be rescued from that and not act like I have been. In reality there is nothing separating me from a life like that man but the kindness and love of God. His salvation that I heard, and it resonated so deep in my heart that with my whole being I lurched forward to believe it. And in that moment he saved me from myself. And He set me free from sin. And there is now no more condemnation.

so that being justified by His grace, we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

So there I sat in my car looking like all the other flustered drivers he’d worked his evil on behind me. But the tears that began to fall were not angry tears. There was pity there mixed with sorrow mixed with a great thankfulness and wonder.

For we also once were foolish ourselves…

but He saved us.

Titus 3

Beth