Rags to Riches

"God chose what is low and despised in the world" 1Corinthians 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross He transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.
Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting.
—Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Praise be to Jesus that we who are sinners, who are dressed in the rags of our own despicable works, are redeemed by an Almighty Merciful God!  We are the sinners that Spurgeon speaks of, but we are also the saints that he speaks of too, because we have been purchased by the blood of a spotless lamb.  Our God shed his tears and his blood for us so that we who are low may be lifted high.  But can we merely rejoice in our own salvation and not cry over those who continue in their trespasses and sin?  No, of course not!  We should be moved in the same way our Savior is moved, because we share His Spirit.  We are constantly being transformed into the image of Christ, therefore what saddens him, saddens us, and what makes him joyful, makes us joyful.  We should cry over the lost, but we should also rejoice because we know that it is God who chooses that which is "low and despised in the world".  Praise be to Jesus the Christ!  And let our prayer be for those who do not know Him.  Pray that Christ would strip them of their rags and clothe them in the glorious riches of grace.

Soli Deo gloria,

Sean Alford