Three years ago today, I hit the height of my hypocrisy, I was in desperate need of the cross and the resurrection, but I had traveled so far into my shadow life, that I wasn’t sure if it was worth coming out again. How could I ever tell people all of the terrible things I had done, and still expect a place in the Christian community, much less in the heart of God.
I stumbled upon a verse shortly after Easter of 2009. A verse from a book called Romans, this was before I even knew what Romans was of course, it said, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
I stumbled upon a verse shortly after Easter of 2009. A verse from a book called Romans, this was before I even knew what Romans was of course, it said, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
I stood in front of a group of younger higher school students to preach this verse and give my “testimony” in the summer of ’09. I had nothing to say however. No truth that I could tell about my life could in any way have been a testament to the power and love of God, I was living the furthest thing possible from a “righteous life”.
Little did I know, however, that my conversion and my testimony were being written right before my eyes, in that moment. I walked into the room unconvinced of the truth of Romans 5:8, and untouched by the Holy Spirit. But throughout that talk, something truly other worldly happened in my soul. God revealed Romans 5:8 to me, the truth, the Christ did not die for perfectly righteous people, but for sinners, and in that moment, there was no greater sinner in the world then yours truly.
Not only that, but as I looked into the faces of the high-schoolers around me, I realized that they too were all broken, and all had shadow lives. I was not alone. And as I brought my dark shadow life into the light before them, it gave them courage to do the same. We belonged in the “Christian community and the heart of God simply because we were sinners and we needed saving. The Christian community, the church, is a community of broken nurses who are all caring for one another by leaning on the wisdom and guidance of the one true Doctor.
In the past three years I have watched God transform my life as well as the lives of those around me. I have watched him take my shattered glass, and begin to piece it together into a beautiful stained glass mosaic of faith and love.
I believe in God the Father and I believe in the saving power of the cross of Jesus. This is part one of my revelation.
-jon
Little did I know, however, that my conversion and my testimony were being written right before my eyes, in that moment. I walked into the room unconvinced of the truth of Romans 5:8, and untouched by the Holy Spirit. But throughout that talk, something truly other worldly happened in my soul. God revealed Romans 5:8 to me, the truth, the Christ did not die for perfectly righteous people, but for sinners, and in that moment, there was no greater sinner in the world then yours truly.
Not only that, but as I looked into the faces of the high-schoolers around me, I realized that they too were all broken, and all had shadow lives. I was not alone. And as I brought my dark shadow life into the light before them, it gave them courage to do the same. We belonged in the “Christian community and the heart of God simply because we were sinners and we needed saving. The Christian community, the church, is a community of broken nurses who are all caring for one another by leaning on the wisdom and guidance of the one true Doctor.
In the past three years I have watched God transform my life as well as the lives of those around me. I have watched him take my shattered glass, and begin to piece it together into a beautiful stained glass mosaic of faith and love.
I believe in God the Father and I believe in the saving power of the cross of Jesus. This is part one of my revelation.
-jon
