A friend shared with me a text his wife sent him that was worthy of a Hallmark card. Another man who is leading a significant ministry at Maywood Baptist Church was a full-blown addict one year ago. A third man who is a vibrant Christian was a thirty-year addict before meeting Jesus ten years ago.
What do these men and so many other men and women have in common? Someone helped them get acquainted with Jesus. After meeting Jesus, He performed the transforming power of giving them the life they always wanted.
They may not know this verse from Isaiah, which was later quoted by Paul in Romans, but they have experienced its truth all the same.
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
God’s rule in Zion was great news to those who experienced the exile. It is God’s rule in the human heart that produces the kind of transformation I referenced above.
From Ruins to Rejoicing
I can only imagine the joy of the Israelites when they returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. I don’t have to imagine what happens with men and women who find new life in a relationship with Jesus.
Break forth; shout together for joy,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:9-10)
“Rock bottom” is often the term used by people in recovery to describe the place where they finally admitted they needed a power higher than themselves. In Western independence, that Higher Power is named Jesus.
I believe the “rock bottom” experience is a gift from God. It is there that people learn to place their full trust in God. They know half-hearted efforts will not be successful, because they have tried and tried those.
At the moment my “rock bottom” friends may have not known Jesus’ teachings on the matter. What was important was that they lived them.
Jesus said, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? (Mark 8:34-36).
Whether they realized it or not, their surrender resembled self-denial and a willingness to take direction from the Lord.
The world is filled with people who have not lost their lives, but it is tragic to know that without Jesus they will. “Rock bottom” people have nowhere to go but up. As they surrender to Jesus, they find the best life possible.
They smile, laugh, sing, and reveal the redemptive power of God.
Not All Sunshine and Roses
I painted a rather rosy picture of addicts who became followers of Jesus. I left out failures, doubts, struggles, interpersonal problems, and everything that goes into living drug and alcohol-free.
That being said, they are able to sing God’s praises because He rescued them from the ruins of their lives and put a new song in their heart. They sing the song of the redeemed and blessed of God.
They are now the beautiful feet who bring the good news of God’s love to the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 