Today I went to a funeral of a friend I’ve known for over two decades. During the funeral, “Amazing Grace” was sung.
The lyrics got me thinking of how I became a Christian at age 28, and the different stages I went through:
- God didn’t have a role in my life.
- I wasn’t bad enough to need God.
- I liked my life and didn’t need God.
- I was beyond God’s help.
- I trusted God’s grace & mercy.
God Doesn’t Matter to Me

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” .
I had been taught who God, but He didn’t have a place in my life.
I’m Not That Bad

The bad news is that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sorry dude, but heaven is closed to anyone with even just one sin (James 2:10) … and you hit that target as a toddler.
I’m Not Ready for God
The third person knows they’re a sinner, and they know they should do something about it but they’re too attached to their worldly things – money, power, possessions, family & friends, their health, the good life they’re living – to want to give God control of their life.
In Mark 10:17-27, we read the familiar story of the “Rich Young Ruler.” He didn’t want to give up “his stuff” to follow Jesus.
I went through this stage too. I knew who God was. Sure, I did bad things at times, but I definitely didn’t want to give my life to Christ. I liked who I was and the freedom that I had. I was my own man, in control of my own destiny (and apparently very naive). I’ll deal with God things later … if at all.
I’m Too Bad
The fourth person knows they’re not a good person. Perhaps they’ve lived a life they’re ashamed of. They may even be caught in an addictive pattern they’re struggling to break out of.
They say “When I clean myself up and get my act together, I’ll start going to church and give myself to Christ.”
Let’s be honest. We’re all addicted to sin. Just one more M&M. Just one more sip of alcohol. It’s just a small lie. Nobody will notice if I take office supplies home; my kids need them for school. I only had a few drinks with her; nothing happened.
The song “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” nails the problem:
if you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all.
You want to fix it, but you cannot solve this problem by yourself. And you believe that God already has you on his “Nope”list.
I was there too. After I got married and started attending church (thank God for godly wives!), I was convinced my story was worse than everyone else in the sanctuary that had been living the Christian life since they were saved at 6 or 7.
(This is where the TV show would go to commercial with the main character in deadly peril and no way to save themselves.)
But … There is a Solution
The song “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton in the 1700s. Newton was captain of slave ships and an investor in the slave trade.
Wikipedia documents his conversion to Christianity. During a return voyage to England, his ship was caught in a severe storm off of Ireland and about to sink. Newton prayed for God’s mercy. The ship limped to port. He began to read the Bible, and eventually became an evangelical Christian, an Anglican cleric, and a slavery abolitionist.
As the song Amazing Grace notes, he was a “wretch”, caught up in his sin. God’s grace showed him the depth of his depravity. Newton could not save himself.
But God could.
The same grace from God relieved his burden of sin “the hour he first believed”. God’s grace kept him safe on his ship and would later lead him home (to heaven).
Who Are You?
Which person are you?
- Do you know who God is?
- Does God play a role in your life?
- Do you acknowledge your need for Him?
- Do you recognize that you cannot fix your addiction to sin?
- Are you willing to throw yourself on God’s mercy and grace?
I shared the bad news part earlier about the wages of sin. The latter half of the verse offers the solution:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Roman’s 10:9-10)
Make the decision today to confess your sins, repent, and put your life into the hands of the only One that can solve your sin problem – Jesus Christ.
Then let me know so we can celebrate the goodness of God together.
Pictures come from Pixabay except the image of John Newton which comes from Wikimedia public domain.
Steve, I am sorry for your loss. Funerals do make us think about eternity, don’t they?
God reminds us of His presence when we need Him most. I’m sorry your friend has passed away, but thankful for your clear presentation of faith.