This is a tribute for my Pastor, leader, and friend Richard Hanssen. This is a message that has been deeply planted in both of his churches. For it is more than amazing truth in the word of God…it’s his heart. This blog is his words, ideas, and love. I would not be where I am today if I did not meet him. Pastor Rich & Rhonda, you are extremely dear to my heart and I will carry this precious truth filled with your love for the rest of my life. Thank you both for being in my corner and loving me when I couldn’t love myself.
What Is Today!?
Today is the FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!
God’s mercy is new every day, better yet…every moment! If we come to Him in true repentance (which means turning our back on our sin and following Jesus) then He comes rushing to meet us! Jesus explains to us the beautiful truth that He’s a loving father on the porch ready, waiting in anticipation to receive us. This is what He speaks about in the parable of the lost son, a son that goes and wastes his life on the world but realizes he had a better life with his father. The son gets up after splurging all his life in selfishness and goes back to his father.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24
Mercy is such a gorgeous blessing we have in our relationship with God. The Lord takes our sin and separates it as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12); He seals it up in a bag (Job 14:17); He puts it behind his back (Isa 38:17). He blots it out (Ps 51:9); He blows it away like a morning mist (Isa 44:22); He throws it in the sea of forgetfulness (Mic 7:19). How amazing is that!? The all-knowing, living God of the universe chooses to forget our sin. His love is what compels us to His throne and in His great mercy we can live again. The depth of His mercy is unfathomable because there’s nothing that can separate us from His unfailing love, so He will always take us back…no matter how far we have fallen. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
Wow… an absolutely breath taking truth that expresses depth of His unfailing love for us. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Ro 7:24-8:1) The divine judgment for those who are in Him is gone; There is no condemnation. What priceless words of truth that express His heart in deep mercy. No one is perfect and He will always forgive us, but out of His mercy when we fall down, there is a critical choice we all must face. Do we stay defeated in the sin or do we get back up and press toward the goal?
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12-14) Out of His great mercy should be an eager desire within all of us to serve Him that much more. A new pursuit flourishes out of our heart to proclaim His powerful name that never leaves us. In a game of darts, you aim at the bull’s eye. What happens if you miss? Do you aim where the last dart hit on the wall? No, you refocus on the bull’s eye…that’s the pursuit we must have.
This deep truth that has been planted in my heart and my local church’s heart! I will carry this truth for the rest of my life and couldn’t be more thankful and exhilarated by it. You see, it explains the heart of God, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Ps 86:15) We need to get up and run towards the goal because there is so much at stake.
“Those who put their faith in Jesus should be living righteously. Those who put their faith in Jesus should be training themselves. Those who put their faith in Jesus should be discerning good from evil. Let’s water the foundation…there’s a lot at stake here. It’s more than just you at stake though, because if we build our whole lives on a sinking foundation and never get it together…and you think, ‘whoo! I made it! Yes!’ What about all those people around you, that you never affected for the Kingdom!? Because you were always caught up in yourself and you wouldn’t grow up… So, it’s time to grow up.” Pastor Richard Hanssen
This was for a message within our foundations in Hebrews 6, however it can go further than that. The source of our sin is our selfishness. However, we are ransomed by the shed blood of Jesus; We should be living for Him and not ourselves. When we live more for Him in His grace, we will impact His Kingdom and everyone wants to see their loved ones go to heaven. This truth immersed in God’s unconditional love has always been a life changing blessing for me and I hope it is for you too!
Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog and thank you so much for supporting me! I am fully funded and we hold great expectation for God to change lives! YOU are a direct source of help and I am thankful beyond words for all of your support! With much gratitude and love your brother in Christ-David.
