But God…
Have you ever considered those two simple words, But God…? Some of the most beautiful stories of the Bible begin with those sentiments. People mess things up but God steps in, and He fixes our mistakes.
Adam and Eve in the garden ate from the tree that God told them not to eat from, and they were separated from Him. But God came in and He provided them with clothing, shelter and food. As we all know there were consequences to their rebellion against God, but God provided for their lives.
The sons of man had become so rebellious during the days of Noah that God decided to send a flood, and wipe everyone from the face of the earth. But God, in His loving-kindness, provided a rescue (escape) plan as He always does. Again, there were and are consequences to our rebellion, but God provides for our lives.
The children of Israel were in Egyptian captivity for 400 years, and had almost given up hope on their redeemer coming. But God never forgets or reneges on a promise. After 400 years the deliverer came to Israel in the person of Moses who was once a captor of the Jewish people. While His promises may seem tardy to us He always follows through with His plan to deliver to us.
One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is the story of Gideon found in the book of Judges. After Moses (the deliverer) and Joshua died Israel sinned against God, and were delivered to the Midianites, but God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from their hand.
Then, my all time favorite story from the Old Testament is found in the 3rd chapter of the book of Daniel. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. King Nebuchadnezzar built a Golden Image of himself, and commanded that all people bow down and worship the image when they heard the sounds of music. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused to worship any god, but the God of Israel. The king had ordered that anyone who refused to worship his image should be thrown into the furnace.
The Hebrews knew what their punishment was to be if they did not bow down, and this is my favorite part, they told the king that their God could save them from the furnace, but even if He didn’t that they were not going to bow down. So, after the furnace had been heated seven times more than normal the Hebrews were thrown into the fire. And when Nebuchadnezzar looked in the furnace he saw a fourth man who appeared “as a son of the gods”. (Daniel 3:25) But God…
Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve we were and forever are separated from God because of sin. “You may be thinking I’m a good person, I follow God’s laws”, well good is not good enough. God demands perfection. And, no matter how hard you or I try we cannot reach the perfection that God requires. We are now and forever “dead in our trespasses”(Ephesians 2:1), but God has made us alive through Jesus Christ. When we call on the name of Jesus we are saved and have eternal life.
I know that you have your own personal “But God” stories; I invite you to think about them, and if you felt led share them here; I know we would all be encouraged and lifted up to hear how God has worked in your life despite your failures.
See my testimony to read my own “But God” story.
Yes, You Can Ministry 