Originally published on February 17, 2017.
Written by Jonathan Blackburn
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him- 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
There are many ways in which the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been authenticated and affirmed; the empty tomb, His resurrected body personally observed by hundreds, as well as the sacred and non-sacred written testimonies of those called and impacted by the gospel. In addition to these powerful "witnesses ", God has provided a more personal authentication; and that is our lives.
The gospel is again confirmed through the lives of people who know without a shadow of a doubt that nothing in and of themselves merits God’s saving grace. Yet God would grant good to the unfit! Unfit not only on divine terms, but often on human and social terms!
It is a bit humbling and anti-culture, to cling to the label of God's foolishness, but that's me. The Lord has brought me from a mighty long way! I am evidence that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and deserves all acceptance. As I begin the process of transitioning into the Executive Director role at 2nd Mile, I cannot help but look back over my life and see what God has done, and how the gospel is the foundation in my new role as a leader and transformative agent in Jacksonville's Brentwood community.
I am not advocating that my role is what makes the gospel good in the sense of human promotion or positional authority. But rather to express that my primary relevance in this world, to Jacksonville, to Brentwood, to 2nd Mile is that the good I have, and any good that I am is in and from Christ Jesus.
I am a witness and affirm the gospel, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. My story is that He saves, that He cares. Like the hymn writer says, he has heard my “faintest cry”. I am a witness that the gospel is still good, that He reaches not for the favorable, but to those who call upon Him and place their trust in Him. Yes, the gospel is still good, and He has unparalleled compassion for our low estate and human condition.
As I think about the ministry of 2nd Mile, I don’t know what all the future holds, but for sure I trust and expect that Jesus will be Jesus, and that the good news of the gospel will always be good news.