With today being graduation Suday at FBC, I'm brought back to the events of last year's graduation Sunday. I remember standing at the back of the auditorium and awkwardly walking down the aisle to the orchestra's fanfare with 10,000 cameras on me. One thing I remember most about last summer is the death of Mr. Appelo, and how much of a shock it was. Well, today, his gorgeous daughter, Rachel, spoke in front of the church giving her testimony and about the impact that event had on her. (You did an awesome job, Rachel, and your shoes were killer, by the way...)
So I remember the events in my life surrounding that day, and surrounding graduation Sunday. And the one thing I learned last summer is probably one of the simplest truths of the Gospel. You cannot CONVINCE anyone to believe in God. Oh, sure, you can read all the books on theology and have incredible doctrinal knowledge and be the most intelligent speaker there is...but you can't convince anyone of The existence of God. You just can't! It's not possible for you or me, in our finite power to do that.
Now, I'm not saying God can't and doesn't use those things to bring people to Him, but it's not because you changed their heart. You don't have that power. I don't have that power. God is the one who can do that. He's the only one who's able to soften a heart, change a mind, and save a soul. We're just allowed the amazing privilege of being able to have a part in God's process.
The few verses I wanna leave you with are what I made my anthem last summer after wading through a painful number of apologetics books. So just mouse over these links and you can read too.
Isaiah 61:1-2
Colossians 1:21-23
Ephesians 2:8-9
Ezekiel 36:26-28
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