SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1236

“From Mess to Message”

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” … Then the Lord said, “… Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” – Exodus 3:4-10

I dare say that we have all made a mess of our lives at one time or another. Beginning with Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden and extending to the present day, humanity has been making a mess of things.

However, through the power of God, these messes can become messages for His glory. He can take our M, E, S, S and add an A, G, E (After God Encounter) and turn our mess into a message of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Moses made a mess of his life in Egypt. After murdering an Egyptian, he was forced to flee into the wilderness to escape the wrath of Pharaoh. Then as we see in our reference Scripture, Moses had an encounter with God and his mess was turned into a message that brought deliverance from bondage for the people of Israel.

God can use some of the messiest people for His glory.

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. …  The woman said to him, … “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” … So, the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. – John 4:7-30

The Samaritan woman had five husbands and was currently living with a sixth who was not her husband. Her life was a mess and she no doubt had a reputation in the town. Yet, Jesus chose her to reveal that He was the Messiah. After her encounter with God, she became an effective evangelist for Christ. Her ‘mess’ was turned into a ‘message’.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” – John 4:39

It is never too late or too far gone.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

The thief that was crucified with Jesus may have never preached a sermon, yet his story of faith, forgiveness, and salvation as recorded in the Holy Scriptures has preached to countless people. His mess was turned into a message after his encounter with God that day.

Don’t believe the lie of the enemy of your soul that it is too late for you, or that your sin is too great for God to forgive you. Hear the message of Scripture: God loves you and desires to forgive you and give you eternal life through Jesus who paid the penalty for your sin and mine.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

The Word of God reveals the mess to message transformation of many: Jacob, Samson, Peter, Matthew, David and so many more.

Our sinful past, our mess, does not define us. After an encounter with God through Jesus we are defined by, and our message becomes all about the forgiveness and eternal life that is ours through Jesus Christ.

Will you add your name to the list?

Will you allow God to turn your mess into a message for His glory?

Will you carry that message, the light of Christ, into the darkness of this world proclaiming ‘Come and see what He has done for me and can do for you?’

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8