Can God Use Me?

Last night I had the opportunity to preach at the prison. During the message, which was on Hebrews 12:1-2, I felt the need to spend a few minutes on the first section of verse 1 which says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses". The witnesses that are being referred to here are those mentioned in chapter 11. Some mentioned were Abel, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Samson, and David. Speaking to a group of men who were in prison for committing crimes of various sorts, it seemed imperative to encourage them concerning their present and future opportunities to serve God. I reminded them that many of those listed in what has been referred to as the "hall of faith" in chapter 11 were guilty of committing some very serious crimes. Moses killed an Egyptian, Rahab was a prostitute, Samson was a killer and an arsonist, and David was an adulterer and a pre-meditated murderer. Sounds like a pretty rough crowd to me. If you looked at those actions, many of us wouldn't have dared to let our children to come within 100 yards of any of them. We warn one another to stay away from the kind of people listed above; people who have committed heinous acts. In our conversations we label those who do these things as "trash" and "worthless." I bring to attention though a very important fact: God used each of these people to accomplish great things. I don't mean mediocre things, we're talking about people that God used to establish His earthly kingdom. So, can God use you or a prisoner or an abortionist or a rapist or a prostitute? YES!! He has before and He will continue to do so. There is hope for all of us. When a life is turned over to God. When a person submits themselves to His will. When someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ, anything is possible! Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." He hasn't changed His standards. He still accepts and uses those who call on Him as Lord and believe that God has raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). How powerful that truth is! It gives hope to the one on the street corner, to the one in the prison cell, and to the one knee-deep in sin sitting at the office.