A Walking Illustration

For many of us who have suffered from shame and regret, the last thing we want to be is a walking illustration. Who wants to be a billboard of a life marked by failure and weakness?

The Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 4:9 "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (KJV).

The original Greek word for spectacle means "theater". In other words, we are on a stage for all the world to watch us, including angels and demons. And what will they see?

God takes the life of Paul, a religious zealot who threw many into prison and persecuted the early church to be a living demonstration of God's mercy. The believers were rightfully concerned to believe Paul's confession when he first came to Christ. Soon it was evident his conversion was genuine.

The very man who threw many into prison would also be spending time behind bars where he would write a large portion of the New Testament. As a result, today we can peer into this man's life and learn much - though it was centuries ago - of a man who was transformed and consumed by the passion of Christ.

Yes, Paul had known a life of failure, of causing many pain and making mistakes along the way but a man who willingly displayed the wonderful work of God conforming him to His image.

In same way, Paul describes us a living epistle to be read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2). Beloved, the wonderful thing of being an living illustration of God's power to change a life, is that people tend to see past the mistakes, sins and failures. They are amazed that you don't go to bars late at night, give way to angry outbursts or use foul language or any other sinful vices.

God will re-write the script just as you step onto the stage. This is what many people will see as Psalms 40:3 describes, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.