- Scripture: Isaiah 64:6 | Romans 5:8 | Isaiah 1:18 | 2 Peter 3:9 | Revelation 3:20
- Broadcast Date: 11/16/2015
Why Me?
God has called ALL of us to come to Him for salvation and to follow Him, every last one of us. We were not always to be sinners, there should be a definite change in us. Christ died to saves us from our sins, not in our sins; but we were yet sinners when he died for us.
Recently I read about a man, Pastor Joseph Parker, who was an outstanding preacher in London with throngs of people flocking to hear him preach. Born in 1830, he preached for over 50 hears in his church, City Temple in London. He died in 1902. One day one of his parishioners asked him question. Why did Jesus choose Judas to be one of his disciples? Parker said he ran that question through is mind over and over but just could not come up with an answer. Then he said that he ran into an even harder question. Why did Jesus choose me? You know that is a question that has baffled people for centuries. The reason that question is so impossible to answer is that when we begin to realize how downright sinful we are, its amazing that God would love any of us. Isaiah spells it out clearly. Listen to him. He says, “But we are all as an unclean thing. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf. Our iniquities like the wind have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
God tells us there is just no good thing in us. That we are sinners and we’re enemies of God. Yet in spite of all of that, God loves us. He calls us to follow Him. St. Paul talks about that in Romans 5 “But God commendeth his love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Think of it, while we were sinners! In verse 10 Paul says we were enemies. God loved us and sent his son to be crucified for our sins. The wonderful love of God. How can anyone explain it? There was no good thing in us, but God loved us, and paid for our sins on the cross.
It reminds me of Dennis the Menace. In one cartoon he and his little friend, Joey are leaving Mrs Wilson’s house and they have their hands full of cookies. Joey says, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?” Dennis responds. “Look Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.” Right on, Dennis!
When I think of some of my sins, it’s an amazing thing that God would ever love me, let alone call me to follow Him as one of His disciples. What an honor that is. Hard to believe but it is as God tells us in his Word, the Bible, “‘Come now,let us reason together’, saith the Lord. ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.'” Isaiah 1:18.
So the question, why me? Why did Jesus choose me to follow Him? But do you know what? God has called all of us to come to Him for salvation. All of us to follow Him. Every last one of us. Peter spells it out in 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” So look at that. Jesus chose Judas. Jesus chose me. And Jesus has chosen you. He’s at your heart’s door right now. Listen to Him. “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20.
Let’s not waste any time asking, “Why Me?” But instead, “Please come into my heart, Lord Jesus.” Smartest thing you could ever do.