"Called From A Life Of Destruction"

By: Zach Wood

Galatians 1:13, 21-23

(13) For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

(21-23) Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.  I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.  They only heard the report: 'The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.'

 

 

After so many years of being involved in ministry work, I have heard numerous touching stories of how people were once so far from God, but then came to know Him and have been completely transformed.  What impresses me the most is how they explain God taking them from a terrible life into knowing Him.  Perhaps before many of you came to know Christ, you felt like the last one Christ would ever offer an invitation.  I'm so glad God doesn't operate that way.  I'm sure Paul is glad as well.  Paul came from a horrible life of persecuting Christians.  He killed a lot of people.  And, he was on his way to kill more Christians when he was finally stopped and transformed.  God took a man, who was breaking His heart and killing His children, and turned him into a man after His own heart.  Isn't that amazing?

 

Personally, I don't have such a testimony as Paul did.  I didn't have a life of destruction from killing and persecuting Christian people.  However, I sure had my share of killing others with words I used that were sometimes hateful.  I was called from a destructive life because I was doing things that didn't please God.  I listened to music that was harmful, I watched movies that were impure, and I went places that weren't good for me to go.  I'm thankful that God took a life of sin and turned it around to a life living for Him.

 

How about you?  Did God rescue you from a destructive path?  Are you thankful?  Do you take time to cry out to God with tears of joy because of the salvation He's given to you?  I think He has rescued us all from some kind of destructive life and brought us into a life that is overflowing with love.  I am really amazed at the transformation Paul went through.  God took Him and turned Him into a powerful man who did wonderful things for the Kingdom.  He went from persecuting to preaching.  Now that's a change of life!  Amen? 

 

I truly find it amazing that God can take us from all the muck and filth we put ourselves into from the world and He brings us into a relationship with Him.  He loves us and wants to use our experiences from our past to help those and relate to those who are currently experiencing the same lives we once lived.