"A Wonder"

Is it not a wonder,

That we survived so long,

With all that we have been through,

And all that has gone wrong.

I think about the horse wrecks,

Just that one thing alone,

So many of ‘em bucked me off,

Surprised I am not gone.

And what about wild cattle,

That tried to do me in,

Tangled in rough country,

And danger way back when.

Drunken nights of stupor,

And some dark, old place,

A thousand gone-wrong memories,

Regrets so hard to face.

Cars that I turned over,

A bunch of blown-out tires,

Some folks I disappointed,

Stoked some evil fires.

So, brother, let me tell you,

And let me make it clear,

The reason I survived it,

And why I am still here.

And that’s because the Good Lord,

Poured out His love on me,

Intervened when needed,

And saved me, don’t you see.

I have a rough, old history,

That God says He will use,

To touch some hopeless people,

Who have no more to lose.

And I will help those people,

If ever that I can,

With the grace of Jesus,

To find God’s perfect plan.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

New life is what Jesus promises. But what about that old life? Is it really gone? In some very strategic ways, yes, it is! How is it gone? It’s gone because it is no longer how we live. Are there leftovers? Certainly. But our lifestyle, values, priorities and direction have changed in fundamental ways if we have surrendered to Christ and have His Spirit living within us. Things don’t magically change overnight, but they do change. Also the old way of life has lost its grip and attraction. Are we tempted? Yes. But are we still obsessed with all the wrong things. Not any more. On the other hand, the old life is still with us in some ways. How? It is part of our memory and history. We cannot forget everything we’ve done. But the value of our history, no matter how sordid, is that it becomes the testimony of God’s transforming grace. It can connect us with those who are still there and are looking for a way out. The most powerful witness to an alcoholic, for example, is a person in recovery. Is the person in recovery living a perfect life? No. But are they in a position to help someone who is still in the throes of their addiction? (12th step) Yes. A good friend of mine who lives for Christ now had as rough a past as me. Maybe worse. He recently said we do not have to apologize for our history, because it is part of what God used to bring us to Himself. That was a very positive way to look at it, I think. If you need a new life, Jesus offers one to you. If you have a new life, share it with somebody.

Lord, let the new life You give us spill out to someone else, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, brucegreeneart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.