Not What We Were, But What We Become
by David Gibson
He lied—repeatedly (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:1-13). Yet we remember Abraham as the man of great faith, the friend of God (Romans 4:18-22; James 2:23).
It was Abraham’s great-grandson Judah who persuaded his brothers to sell their despised brother Joseph as a slave (Genesis 39:26-27), but 22 years later Judah proved himself to be a truly changed man (Genesis 44:18-34). Centuries later, the Messiah would be hailed as “the lion that is from the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5 NASB).
She was once a prostitute, but Rahab is honored for her faithful help to Israel (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).
He committed adultery, then murder. But these were marked exceptions to a life otherwise wholly devoted to God—David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). And Jesus would be called “the son of David” (Matthew 1:1).
The one who cowardly denied Jesus quickly grew into the bold apostle Peter (Luke 22:54-62; Acts 4:1-22; 5:27-42), to whom Jesus would grant “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
It’s not what we once were that counts in God’s book, but what He enables us to become—by His grace.
There’s hope for us yet!
