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...the Bible tells me so:
I am sure that you all know the saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Sometimes we think about it when we see someone else truly in need; sometimes when we see some despised panhandler.
This saying is modern adaptation of Paul’s statement, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NASV).
I feel the same way as Paul. I am thankful for the blessings with which God has blessed me. Yet someone might say, “But, Rocky, hasn’t leukemia tried to kill you for the last three years? How is that ‘grace’?”
Let me add to that question. A sister of mine died as a teenager. My mom died young. I flunked out of college. I was fired from my job. I quit a job that was the best I ever had. My car caught on fire beside an interstate highway. I totaled my car on a state highway. I lost out in love for the woman I planned to marry. Acne cursed me for years. Two of my sons almost died. I had to fight to get my medical insurance company to cover my bone marrow transplant. I have made terrible mistakes through the years. I do not know about you, but I think that I have had my share of troubles.
However, I know that I need to focus on the blessings of God in my life. God blessed me with a wonderful wife and three fine sons. God blessed me with a supportive congregation and community. God blessed me with a tremendous academic education. God blessed me with a new mom and a new sister. God blessed me with a family closer than I had ever dreamed of having. God has blessed me with great opportunity to serve Christians and others. God blessed me with an excellent cancer hospital, eighteen months of remission and one year of a very successful bone marrow transplant. In fact, today, April 19, 2002, is my first year anniversary for receiving those life-giving stem cells.
I have much to be thankful for. Most importantly, God blessed me with spiritual life on September 24, 1972, when I was immersed into Christ (see Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27) and washed my sins away (see Acts 22:16). God blessed me with the strength to face the different adversities in my life. God blessed me with confidence to face the uncertainty of death.
While I never saw the Risen Lord with my eyes like Paul, or while with my ears I never heard Jesus speak (see Acts 9:3-6; 22:6-9, 14-15; 26:16), nonetheless I feel like Paul when he described himself at his conversion as “one untimely born” (1 Corinthians 15:8).
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul argued for the validity and significance of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The proof of Jesus’ resurrection is that, after His death, He appeared to a great many believers (verses 1-11). But, for the sake of argument, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then all Christians are foolishly hopeless (verses 12-19). But, Christ as the first fruits is our guaranty of the resurrection harvest (verses 20-34).
Of course, we all want to know what our resurrection bodies will be like. Paul’s answer is simply that we will have an imperishable, glorious, power-filled, spiritual and heavenly body (verses 35-49). Our victory will be when death no longer has rule over our bodies and our fears (verses 50-57).
Paul concluded chapter 15 with this great exhortation, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (verse 58).
Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, “by the grace of God I am what I am.” I am thankful for the confidence that He gives me to face whatever problems I have in life. He gives me the confidence to face death. He gives me grace to work for Him (see verse 10). God has blessed me many, many times over. Thank you, Father.
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