Every Saint Has A Past And Every Sinner A Future Series

Levi reminds me of John Newton and the long journey he took before his transformation took place. Today we know Newton as one of the five greatest English hymnwriters in history, whose song “Amazing Grace” was dubbed America’s favorite hymn and story often told poignantly.

Newton earned his money the most detestable way. Although Newton himself was made a slave when he was a young man for deserting ship, he too entered the industry, captured unsuspecting natives, and transported ships of them for commerce along the African Coast. In 1748, when his ship ran into a violent storm that threatened to sink his ship and way home to England, Newton cried for mercy, begged for forgiveness and got a reprieve when the storm passed. Newton kept his word, made up for lost time, and quit his post although he resisted initially.

Later Newton studied for the ministry, became a pastor when he was 39 years old, and actively campaigned against slavery. He single-handedly wrote hundreds of hymns. In his old age, when reading was beyond him, Newton said, “Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say I am not what I once was: a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am!” (7,700 Illustrations # 2096)

In his death Newton’s tombstone read, “John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”

Jesus is willing, able and present to rescue, deliver, and transform sinners like you and I. To the world, you may be poison, a potential troublemaker, or a dirty rotten scoundrel, but to Him, you are precious, a potential child of God, and poor lost sheep. You may be down on yourself, far from God, and over your head with problems, but God goes out of His way, looks for you, and calls you to follow Him. Levi did not ask or call for Jesus. Jesus did not bump into Levi or stop to rest. He “called” on and called to Levi.

THE COMPANY OF JESUS MAKES CHANGE NATURAL

28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. (Lk 5:28-29)

The narrative now turned to Levi, and what he did naturally to show his sincerity, rebirth, and transformation.

Interestingly, unlike the NIV, the Greek, Chinese and NASB emphasized that Levi left everything before he got up! Levi made up his mind, determined in his heart, and resolved in his being to leave everything behind to follow Jesus. Getting out his chair and stepping out of his office were drastic steps to take. Levi left a controversial job, a distracting lifestyle, but a stable income. He would never find a more secure and lucrative job. In today’s world, it means leaving guaranteed stock options, corporate perks, and a comfortable nest egg, and letting Jesus be the boss, director, and person in charge of your life. On top of that, Levi slammed the door, turned the key, and closed the chapter on his old job or lifestyle. He had no pleasure in his old job, no allure for its pressure, and no regrets at leaving it.