Why are you still here? Seriously. Why aren’t you burning in Hell at this very moment? Are those fair questions to ask? I think so. I also think if the Apostle Paul were here, he’d agree with me.

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:12-17

The Lord is patient beyond measure. He waited for you, didn’t He? He waited for me, too. What took us so long? I suppose for some of us, we were like Paul, stuck in religiosity, trying to do right by God even though we were wildly off-base, often even persecuting His Church. For others of us, we were just too self-absorbed, too involved in this wretched world to care.

Paul’s recount of his salvation is meant to be encouraging to the rest of us. It not only reveals an extreme case of divine patience, but also the ultimate purpose of the Lord’s long-suffering, namely salvation.

But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Matthew 9:12-13

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- Luke 19:10

Paul called himself the “foremost” of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) to illustrate just how far Christ will go to save one of God’s children. He will, in fact, go as far as it takes, enduring the awfulness of mankind just to save some.

I think back on my own life at all the antagonistic things I’ve done towards Him, and not just before He saved me, but even after (I am rightly ashamed), and there’s just no way to express the hurt I feel. In that same moment, there’s also just no way to express the gratitude I have in my heart towards my Lord. I’m so unworthy, so pathetic, so weak. And yet, here I stand, writing this to you as a child of God in possession of eternal life.

Then turning toward the woman [likely a prostitute] he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
- Luke 7:44-48

Our Lord waited on the sinful woman just like He waited on Paul, and you, my friend. The more we understand just how depraved we are, the more we can appreciate the long-suffering of our Lord, and the more grateful we will be for our so great salvation.

Thank you, Lord, for loving a wretch like me. I’m speechless…

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins