By Angela Wittman
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. – Psalm 40, verse 2, KJV
While the world mourns the premature death of one of its pop music icons, Whitney Houston, perhaps those in the Church should remember their humble beginnings as new creatures in Christ and what life for them was like before they came to know Jesus Christ. And while we can rejoice in our new status as a redeemed people, set apart for good works in Christ Jesus, let us never forget that if not for the love of God and the sharing of the Gospel by His people, we might still be in a horrible pit, stuck and weighed down in the mire of our filthy sins.
As Christians it is very tempting to separate ourselves from the world around us and somehow feel superior to the “pagans” and ungodly people we cross paths with everyday. But I encourage you to remember that you were also once dead in your trespasses and sins (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1-4) and have now by the grace of God been “raised up together, and made [to] sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6).
So, while the world mourns and seeks answers for the untimely death of one of its superstars who proved to be a woman of flesh and blood with many troubles and much sorrow, let us remember our humble beginnings as sinners and point them toward Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Who knows, gentle Christian, but that through you and your testimony of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, many others will also come to know Christ and will someday join you in the New Jerusalem at the River of Life that all believers look forward to:
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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| Whitney Houston, 2009 |
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. – Psalm 40, verse 2, KJV
While the world mourns the premature death of one of its pop music icons, Whitney Houston, perhaps those in the Church should remember their humble beginnings as new creatures in Christ and what life for them was like before they came to know Jesus Christ. And while we can rejoice in our new status as a redeemed people, set apart for good works in Christ Jesus, let us never forget that if not for the love of God and the sharing of the Gospel by His people, we might still be in a horrible pit, stuck and weighed down in the mire of our filthy sins.
As Christians it is very tempting to separate ourselves from the world around us and somehow feel superior to the “pagans” and ungodly people we cross paths with everyday. But I encourage you to remember that you were also once dead in your trespasses and sins (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1-4) and have now by the grace of God been “raised up together, and made [to] sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6).
So, while the world mourns and seeks answers for the untimely death of one of its superstars who proved to be a woman of flesh and blood with many troubles and much sorrow, let us remember our humble beginnings as sinners and point them toward Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Who knows, gentle Christian, but that through you and your testimony of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, many others will also come to know Christ and will someday join you in the New Jerusalem at the River of Life that all believers look forward to:
And he showed me a pureriver of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. – Revelation, chapter 22, verses 1-5, NKJV
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So true, I hope she's saved...Lord knows His children, and it isn't our works that saves us, it's His, He is perfect, we are forgiven. :)
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciated your words - they are full of truth, and they are written with grace.
ReplyDeleteThank you both so much! One must acknowledge the God-given talent of Whitney Houston and respect her for it, even though she made some terrible choices in life, we can be hopeful for her due to the mercy of our Lord. I was glad to hear that she was raised in a Christian church and used her voice for His glory as a youth.
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