God is faithful...

   I listened to a testimony on CBN's the 700 Club, about a young man who had a  promising college football career. His parents and sister had high hopes for him until tragedy struck and the “experts” told him that his dreams would never come true.
    On his first night at his college dorm, he decided to go to a party with friends. When he got there he knew that was not where he should be because he witnessed things that went against his christian upbringing. He and his friends ended up staying only five to ten minutes and left. In the parking lot, as they tried to decide what to do next, they heard screaming and then gunshots. As they all ran, he felt one of his legs give out and he fell to the ground. He had been shot. He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. His family alerted friends and family and they all prayed earnestly for him. His surgery was successful but the doctor believed that if he could at least walk normal again that would be good. He never expected him to be able to play football again because of the nature of his injury. But, guess what? He did. He was able to try out for the team and the only reason he did not make it was because their roster was already full so he would have to try out again at another time.
    A couple of things ministered to me about this testimony. God’s healing yes, but also His mercy and grace. This young man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even he realised it and made an effort to leave. He made an effort to get out of a bad situation and in the process got shot. God was merciful to Him because he could have died but God gave him another chance and chose to spare his life. He didn’t just spare his life but allowed Him to still be able to fulfil his football dream.
    How many times do we falter, take a wrong path or road yet God in His mercy and grace spares us, gives us another chance, just plain loves us anyhow? That’s what God does, that’s the God we serve. Maybe He allowed this guy to get shot so that he would never make the same mistake again.
    In my own life, I have taken the wrong path. I knew I was on the wrong path but chose to stay on it because it felt good. Yet my God, pursued me and never let go of me even though I had let go of Him. That is the God we serve, a God who does not give up on us. We sin, we fail, every single day yet God continues to pursue us relentlessly, love us unconditionally and still says He has a great and wonderful plan for us.
    I encourage us to draw closer to Him. Let’s save ourselves some unnecessary heartache and heartbreak. You see the closer we are to Him the more secure we are. It does not mean that bad things won’t happen to us, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but at least when bad things come our way, we have the confidence that whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through and that’s a promise!