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Don't Underestimate God's Amazing Grace
Mon., Feb. 18. 2008 4:13pm EST
Frank Queen is a Pennsylvania-based pastor who's been a fan and friend of ApologetiX since he was a student attending our Paradise Club concerts back in 1992. He recently shared this testimony in one of his newsletters, and we've included an excerpt: Since January 5 of this year, I've had the privilege of praying with four people who surrendered their lives to Christ. My wife did the same with three of our youth. It was a good month ministry-wise.
One of the ladies I prayed with was named Rhonda. She has quite a storied past and has had an on-again-off-again struggle with drugs. Most people in the community knew Rhonda and just pretty much accepted her as a druggie for whom their was no hope. In the early part of January, I was at Rhonda's house, speaking with her, her daughter Olivia, and Olivia's boyfriend, Jarod. Before I left that night, we were all on our knees in Rhonda's living room as the three of them dedicated their lives to Christ.
Saturday, February 2, Rhonda died in the early morning hours. She had a lifetime of drug abuse and ungodly living, but like the thief on the cross, she found God's forgiveness before she left this life. Rhonda was only 48 years old. She died suddenly, having no diagnosed illness. She will stand in my memory forever, because she was so close to eternity but didn't even know it. She received God's mercy in the nick of time.
Many thought Rhonda was a lost cause. But as a line from song that my friend J. Jackson wrote which always stuck with me pops into my head - "Don't underestimate God's amazing grace." (Editor's Note: from the ApologetiX song "Lazy Brain"). His grace can change anyone and His timing is always perfect. Frank later told us the following: You know that line "Don't underestimate God's amazing grace" has stuck with me from the first time I heard "Lazy Brain." Seriously, that phrase sort of became God's little reminder to me to never give up on someone. When we do, we're really saying that the blood of Jesus isn't enough to cover that person. God saved the chief of sinners -- Paul, a murderer of women and children -- and used him to write most of the New Testament! It is funny that as Christians we glory in that fact and then look at someone today as being too far gone. Strange isn't it?
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