A Closer Walk
A CLOSER WALK
Greg Worthen
Have you ever messed up? Messed up a situation? Messed up at work? Messed up in some other way? We all have. Each and everyone of us has messed up at some point. None of us are infallible. No, not one. So take heart, it is possible to overcome such times. Think about this, there is nothing on this earth that we, you and I, can mess up so badly that our God can't fix it. No matter how hard we try. No matter how badly we stumble. No matter the depth of the stupidity in whatever decision we made. There is nothing anywhere on this earth that we, you and I, can mess up so badly that our God cannot fix it. We may not yet know how the mess up will turn out or the outcome that will eventually arrive, but our God can use it to our benefit.
Remember what the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah stated, “But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand,” Isaiah 64:8 NASB. In addition, remember that the root word of message is, mess. Not only is our God able to fix anything we mess up, but He can and usually does turn that mess into a message. When we are witnessing to someone we can then use that message to share the Gospel. This message could be used as an illustration of how God works in people's lives; or at least how He has worked in our life. And that is in its most basic form what witnessing is, testifying to what we have seen and heard. Who can testify better to what our Lord has done with us, for us, to us, than we ourselves? It is very important in these situations that we are truthful and not add fiction to our story. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The truth will win out. Just speak in our own words as we normally talk, nothing fancy. We are not offering a soliloquy. We are telling our story.
After we realize we have messed up then what? First, if it was some sin ask for forgiveness. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose],” 1 John 1:9 Amplified Bible. This Bible is literal in its translation but it also seeks to bring through the nuances of the underlying Biblical Greek that would otherwise be lost in the translation. It can sometimes be very helpful in gaining a more thorough understanding of a verse or passage. If we admit we have sinned and ask our God for forgiveness He will provide it.
After receiving forgiveness, or if there was no sin to begin with, then what do we do after messing up? “...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the strength to go on that counts.” This quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill, but in my research I found that is likely not the case. Pieces of the quote go all the way back to 1905. It probably was put together over the years from smaller sayings to make up the eventual final version. Regardless, the quote is full of wisdom. No matter how badly we mess up, it probably isn't fatal. So press on. Move forward. And ask for our Lord's guidance and direction to continue our path. Failure is not fatal.
“Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before! Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle,
see his banner go! At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise! Like a mighty army moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; We are not divided; all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song; Glory, laud, and honor, unto Christ the King; This thro' countless ages men and angels sing. Refrain: Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before!” Words by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924, tune St. Gertrude by Arthur Sullivan, 1842-1900, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.