Have you ever committed a sin so bad
that it makes you question if you're beyond redemption? It’s when you believe
even God couldn't possibly forgive you. For your solution, let's ditch all the
usual cliches and look back 300 years at a renegade named John Newton – someone
famous, whose name you’ll soon remember. Newton was a foul mouthed, hard-core atheist and
slave trader. He was so vulgar that when he was 18 years old, the British Navy stripped him to
his waist and flogged him with 96 l
ashes in front of 350 men. And by the
time he was 20 years old he was so despised by his shipmates that the slave ship he was on dumped
him in Africa where he became a slave himself. Years later, after being rescued by
another slave ship, Wikipedia says, “Newton gained notoriety as being one of the
most profane men his captain had ever met.” Imagine being around someone with such a filthy
mouth who mocked and openly ridiculed God. But his life changed when he found himself in the cold
wate
r of the North Atlantic in the storm of his life. As the ship struggled in the storm, a
huge wave swept a crew member overboard – right where Newton had been standing only a few moments
before. Newton tied himself to the ship’s pump to prevent from being washed overboard and
for the next 13 hours fought to pump water, steer the ship, and to stay alive. And it
was here, that Newton gave himself to God. But let's think about who Newton really was.
He was a foul mouthed, God denouncing, whip m
e until I’m almost dead, slave trader. And these are just the most noteworthy things about him.
I’ll bet if we saw how he mistreated the slaves, or heard what he said, we would shutter in dismay. But Wikipedia says,
“John Newton’s memory of saying, "Lord have mercy upon us!" uttered during a
moment of desperation in the storm did not leave him and he began to ask if he was worthy
of God's mercy or in any way redeemable.” Sounds like us, doesn't it? In other words, Newton wondered if he was
even forgivable, worth saving, or usable by God? And isn’t this the same struggle we
have when we feel it would be impossible for God to forgive us? When we are so
ashamed or feel so worthless or lost? In the years that followed, Newton's faith slowly grew
and eventually became a pastor and leading abolitionist to end slave trading.
But notice that it took years of effort, a deep desire for God to grow inside him, and there
was no magic “change-me” pill that he swallowed. Amazingly, God use
d Newton’s
worst experience of his life, and his ultimate transformation
changed the lives of millions of Africans destined for slavery. Today
his song inspires us with these words: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see. John Newton once said, “I see no
reason the Lord singled me out for mercy…unless it was to show that
with him nothing is impossible.” It doesn’t matter what you’ve said or
done, because no
thing is impossible with our God who raised Jesus from the dead. His amazing
grace is bigger than your sins. His love for you is stronger than your despair. His forgiveness is
ready for you to have if you will just accept it. Let’s pray: “Dear Lord Jesus, thank
you for saving a wretch like me. Wretches like us. Thank you for
forgiving us. We ask you to be our God, our King who rules over our lives. Please, Lord,
transform us to be the people you want us to be. To be people who can learn to
forgive
others. In your mighty name, Lord Jesus! Amen.” Friends, before you go, please note
how John Newton allowed God’s grace to work inside him. That’s why we hope you’ll
pick one of these two videos to watch next, as you too, grow closer to God. We’re
looking forward to seeing you there!
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