“I’m addicted to drinking and smoking, it’s a trap I don’t know how to get out of…”
The tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke. “My friends do it so I feel left out if I don’t.” He put his hands over his face and put his face down on the church pew in front of him. He sat there and shook his head. “I just want to be free.”
As I sat there and listened to his story, I couldn’t help but relate. “Benjamin, I’ve been there, I’ve been a liar, been a thief,” I said.
“When I was younger I stole from a store and lied more times than I can count about places I went high school with my boyfriend, but can I tell you something?” I said.
Know this:
“You’re never too dirty to come to Jesus”
Reality is, I’m just a small town girl, that grew up next to a farm. I used to play by the creek, hang out with friends in my tree house and go for carefree walks with my dad in the woods. I was a “goodie goodie,” I guess you could call it.
In my teenage years, I disobeyed my parents, barely paid attention in church, and tried to find love from relationship to relationship.
Parties, boys, and popularity status were important to me and for years I was stuck in a trap. A trap of constant heartache and hopelessness that felt like chains I couldn’t escape from.
Ever been there?
It wasn’t until I lost it. I lost everything: my plans for my life, my boyfriend, my choice of college and more. It was then that I realized I had nothing.
I mean yes, I had my family and close friends but I didn’t have joy. It wasn’t until I was 18 years old that my life changed.
In college, I met a girl named Kali who gleamed of something that I always wish I had. She had a hope regardless of the difficult situations in life, she seemed free.
Kali and I became best friends in college. I watched her read her Bible and live her life authentically in love with Jesus. When she prayed it was like she was talking to her best friend. It wasn’t scripted, she wasn’t perfect, and she didn’t do this because she had to, she desired to.
For so long in my life I had been going through the motions of religion. My heart though, was far from a real relationship with Christ. To be honest, it kind of freaked me out.
I thought I’d be called a “Jesus freak” or have to change my entire life and I didn’t want to give up living in sin.
I went to church one time with Kali and a song came on that said these words:
“You won’t relent until you have it all, my heart is yours.”
My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. It was then in that moment that I realized something…
God is not going to stop pursuing me. For so long I yearned to know this Jesus Kali knew and feel clean from my sin. I desired to live for the one who died for my brokenness. It was then in that moment that I found freedom, when I gave my heart to Jesus.
Reality is:
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Jacob was a liar
Joseph was abused.
Moses stuttered.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Elijah was suicidal.
David was an adulterer and murderer.
Jonah ran from God.
Isaiah preached naked.
Matthew was a tax collector that stole money.
Peter denied Jesus three times.
These are men and women God used in a mighty way despite their mistakes or brokenness. He loved them so much that He sent His son, Jesus to take their place for their sin and gave them a hope of new life in Him.
This reality is true for you too.
Are you longing for a rescue from the traps of sin?
Are you yearning to be free?
Benjamin was, and I am rejoicing to say that last night he found freedom. Freedom in Jesus Christ from the traps of sin.
Regardless of what you have done or what you’ve gone through in your life…
Christ loves you.
You don’t have to do anything to earn his love, He’s already displayed His love for you on the cross, before you could ever do anything for Him.
You don’t have to come to Him all cleaned up and perfect. He will take you just as you are. He’s ready with open arms and He will never cast you away. The choice is yours. He will never stop pursuing you, will you come to Him?
