From Diamond in the Rough To DiamondTheConqueror
I would love to go into grave detail about how my whole “life got flipped-turned upside down” however, the purpose of this post is to explain how I got into ministry in the first place and why I am writing this blog.
I never planned to be any type of minister, in fact I had a desire to become an attorney. That quickly changed when I learned how long Lawyers have to attend college and when I realized how incredibly unfair the justice system is in America. So I went through many years of not knowing my purpose or why I was here. Then again, like most of us, I never asked God either. All I knew is that in my late teens and early 20’s I did a lot of foolish things that could have ended me up in jail or a grave. God used his grace to save me from all of that.
I remember several times I would be crying during worship, asking God “why did you save me?” I finally got my answer one day in my prayer closet:
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil— the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loves us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT)
Whew! That was a whole read! From head to toe! It is through this passage that I learned about how God’s grace allowed for me to be reconciled to Him through His son Jesus and why. I am honored to tell people about how I was dead in sin and how it is only through God’s grace that I am saved. It let’s people know that if God can forgive and use someone like me who was in bondage to lust, adultery, pride, religion, and drugs, He can certainly do the same in their life.
I have found that one of the main things that keep people from giving their lives to Christ isn’t so much sin as it is the religious people who claim to represent Christ. I use to be one of those people. Trying to hold other sinners to a standard of righteousness that I could not measure up to myself. And I didn’t treat people with love, I tried to convert them by using condemnation. Lord knows I had a whole plank in my eye OK!! I am so glad that God has changed my heart and renewed by mind. Jesus said that by our love, the world would know that we are his disciples. I believe religion and love to contradict one another, which is why Jesus never got along with the religious leaders of his time.
It is my mission to use this platform and any other means God gives me to showcase the grace, love, and mercy that has been afforded to me in hopes that people who have never given their life to Christ will make the first step towards doing so and that those who are saved grow in their faith and intimacy with their heavenly Father through Christ.
So I am no longer a Diamond in the rough, in fact as the scripture says I am seated with Christ in heavenly realms and I use my God-given authority to conqueror demons and spiritual strongholds.