The Christian Author: March 1, 2016

The Biggest Loser -- Wins! (Not Weight Loss)

He was one of the biggest loser’s I had ever met. He was a drunk. He was unemployed. His business had failed. He didn't have any money. He was overweight and terribly out of shape. He needed a bath. The scent of his smelly, soiled body and dirty clothes filled my office with a horrible odor. He had legal problems. He was separated and a divorce was looming on the horizon. He was also homeless. His wife had kicked him out and he was staying on a day-by-day basis with his nearly ninety-year-old grandmother. His car was worn out. He was worn out. And his patience with life was worn out. I remember his words, “My life doesn’t make sense!” And he was “right” -- It didn’t make sense!

Today he is clear-eyed, clear-headed and clear-thinking. He’s employed in a managerial position for a large firm. He has financial resources beyond what he had ever anticipated. He is also a tremendous physical specimen – lean and muscular, well-groomed and always neatly dressed. His legal problems were resolved long ago. He has a clean slate. His marriage is restored and he and his family share a lovely home together.

His life was once very empty, lacking substance, meaning, purpose and direction. His life didn’t make sense. That was nearly twenty-five years ago. One of the biggest losers I had ever met.

He called recently. Just to talk. “That was the most memorable day of my life,” he said.

I remember that day well. I remember telling him, “If you forget everything else, remember one thing: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”

I advised him to do the only thing he could do. Turn his will and his life over to Christ. Invite Christ into his heart, into his life and into every unfortunate circumstance that he, his drinking and his anger had created. And –he did!

The biggest loser I'd ever met - Won - And discovered that Christ is the answer when life doesn’t make sense!

It is no secret, what God can do. What He's done for others, He'll do for you

-- Stuart Hamblen

Many people identify with “The Biggest Loser” – (“I can identify with that,” they say) -- but what do you do when his story is closer to your story than you’d like? What do you do when your life is empty, when your life lacks substance, when your life lacks meaning, purpose and direction?

One of our Greatest Fears is the

Fear of Failure.

One of our Greatest Pains is the

Pain of Regret.

~ “Messages That Minister” ~

The Biggest Loser -- Wins!

Here are some “Mini-Messages” that ministered to my friend -- “The Biggest Loser” – hopefully, they’ll help you or help you help someone else! Remember, Christ is the answer when life doesn’t make sense!

No matter how far you’ve fallen, you’re not a failure. Failing is an experience, an event – not a person. Failure is something that happens, an incident. Let me reemphasize -- Failure is never a person! You are not a failure. Your marriage may have failed – but you are not a failure! You may have had a financial failure – but you are not a failure! You may have had a failed business – but you are not a failure! Your children may not have turned out as you would have liked – but you are not a failure! You may have experienced failure, but that doesn’t make you a failure. You are not a failure.

The normal response to events of failure is – remorse. Remorse IS a natural, normal response. If you’re not careful, however, remorse will produce depression, despair and other dark emotions that have the potential to lead you to…

· Project your failures onto others

· Project your failures onto yourself

· Believe that other people are horrible people

· Believe that you’re a horrible person

· Believe that everyone is against you

· Believe that the world is against you

· Justify and Rationalize your failures

· Even deny the reality of your failures

The appropriate response to events of failure is – repentance. When we repent we accept responsibility for the event. If we’ve made mistakes, unwise decisions and poor choices – we acknowledge that – and we deal with the consequences. Remorse is looking backward. Repentance is moving beyond the failure -- moving forward. Don’t let the shadow of past failures cast a dark shadow on your bright future. You can’t say you want things to be different if you’re not willing to do things differently – that’s repentance!

If your failure is rooted in sin – definitely repent, in the biblical sense of the word – and make amends wherever and whenever necessary.

Remember…

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

“...If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything. (1 John 3:20)

John Dee Jeffries

fbc.chalmette@gmail.com

One final thought: What has happened has happened. You can’t unscramble eggs! You can’t “un-sin” sin. You can’t change the past. You are not what you did! You are who God says you are – forgiven! It is never too late to do what God wants you to do. Maybe you're in a dark chapter in your life. Hang in there. Remember – your story’s not over!

Christ is the answer when life doesn’t make sense!

Surf and Explore our site