Scripture Passage
God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16 NLT)
Observation
Paul was a man with a checkered past. If there is such a thing, Paul was more than just an “ordinary” sinner. He was a sinner of the worst kind—a vicious persecutor of the church! Luke describes him as “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1 NIV). And Jesus took Paul’s assaults against the church personally—as assaults against Him! What question does Jesus ask Paul (Saul) as he stops him in his tracks on the road to Damascus? “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4) The reality is, Jesus had every reason to wipe Paul off the face of the earth. He would have been fully justified had He chosen to obliterate even any memory of Paul from the history of humanity.
Instead, the Savior appeared to Paul in dramatic fashion, giving Paul the opportunity he needed to repent and believe the good news. Paul’s conversion stands as testimony to God’s “great patience with even the worst sinners” (1 Timothy 1:16 NLT).
Many common questions raised by unbelievers regarding Christian faith are rooted in portrayals of God as unjust, unfair, and even angry and vengeful. Those objections are nothin’ but baloney. Oh, they may be genuinely offered and perceived as legitimate by those who offer them, but any honest reading of the Scriptures reveals a God who is “patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV). In fact, just like Paul who knew of God’s patience by experience, so did Peter, who wrote those words. Having vehemently denied Jesus after promising he wouldn’t, Peter (like Paul) learned how patient and willing to forgive our Savior is.
All such accusations of cruelty, anger, or wrath stand dismissed with an honest look at who God is. Don’t believe them. Disregard such lies—when offered by those who protest the Christian faith…and when Satan attempt to make you believe otherwise yourself. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you are today—you, too, “can believe in Him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16 NLT).
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