Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtMany years ago, I met a man whose life was in a very undesirable place. He was a Vietnam veteran whose experience in that war brought great turmoil to his life. This is not a statement about that war but simply to say that the war led to significant psychological and emotional distress and unrest. It is often diagnosed today as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).When I met him, he was, for the most part, living on the streets of Minneapolis. I believe he had some place he called home, but he spent most of his time drinking with his street buddies and had little to no life outside of that. One night, while I was out on the streets sharing Jesus with a couple, this man, Bob, who I noticed was listening in on us, walked up and inserted himself into our conversation. I told him I'd be happy to talk with him if he could patiently wait while I finished the conversation I was in. He backed away and said he would wait.When I was finished, I walked over to Bob and introduced myself. He immediately began telling me about his present-day life—why it was so messed up and why he could never be a Christian. He made these statements not truly understanding what it means to be a Christian. Suddenly, he declared, “God would never accept me because of the sins of my past. The things that I’ve done are too sinful—beyond what God could forgive!”He was not the first person to struggle with such thoughts. Countless people do! In telling me his story, he explained that he had murdered innocent women and children during the war—not intentionally, but as collateral damage in battles he was involved in. It had been difficult and tormenting because some women and children in villages were covertly conducting war against our troops. It was not always easy to discern who was or wasn’t the enemy. He was tormented by what He had done and sure that God hated Him and that He would never make it to Heaven.The pain and guilt he felt led him to drugs and alcohol—first while overseas and then after returning from his military career.During our conversation, I began to explain to him that, as difficult and painful as those experiences and memories were, God would accept and forgive him. I shared that God’s love and mercy were greater than his past sins and mistakes.I could see from the look in his eyes and the expression on his face that he wanted to believe what I was saying but found it almost impossible. I continued, sharing that every person who has walked this earth, except for Jesus, has failed to live righteously before God. I opened my Bible, turning to Romans 3:23 (NLT), and had him read the words, “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”I explained to Bob, God is holy and cannot coexist with any sin—big or small, abundant or few. Because we’ve all sinned, we’ve all been disqualified from heaven. That’s the bottom line! But God did something about it. I began to explain this to Bob.He didn’t understand why Jesus came to earth. He knew Jesus died on the cross but couldn’t relate that to his own life or the evil he felt he had done. As I explained further, his eyes began to light up, and his countenance slowly started to change. It was as if the effects of the alcohol began to supernaturally diminish, and he became completely sober before my very eyes.I continued, “Bob, God didn’t send Jesus into the world to condemn you but to save you! He knows you’ve messed up. Every one of us has! That’s why, out of His love for us, God sent Jesus.” John 3:17 (NIV) supports this saying: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”I explained a powerful truth that undergirds a Christian’s righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” I said, “Bob, what I want you to understand is that Jesus literally traded your sins and mine for His righteousness. He did this as a gift, and it’s received by faith—by your personal belief in God’s love for you.”As we talked further, Bob began to cry, tears streaming down his face. I led him in prayer where He asked Jesus to forgive him and become his Lord and Savior. For the first time, he felt forgiven for his past life of guilt and pain. He hugged me tightly and thanked me over and over.Our ability to change is supernatural and empowered by God’s grace and gift of righteousness. It is the foundation of being in right standing with God and receiving forgiveness of sins. Righteousness is not ours because of our goodness or actions. It is a gift from God through what Jesus did for us. It creates the starting point where the past is washed away, the present is restored, and eternal life with Christ is guaranteed. This is the beginning of all supernatural change. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”I watched this man’s countenance transform before my eyes. It brought tears to both of us! He was a huge man and picked me up in the biggest hug and then set me down—a terrifying and exhilarating moment all at once! This is the power of God’s righteousness working in someone’s life, and it is available to all who believe!Today I pray that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that as a believer in Christ knowing that He died for you, you understand that your righteousness is a gift from Him. He sees you washed in the blood He shed for you! It is how He chooses to see all those who believe in Him!Romans 3:22 (NLT) "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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