I Am So Embarrassed - I was Wrong

I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life where I was involved in things that I thought were the right things to do and I gave it my all thinking it would be the solution to the world’s or the church’s problems (ok, maybe not so dramatic but you get the point). I poured myself into the activity, work, event or group. Yet, as time went along, I soon realized I was wrong about the people in the group or I was wrong about the motives of others or even about the results that would be accomplished through my efforts. In times like these, I have been tempted to take my ball and go home, to give up, to hide out or to avoid my brethren. It is hard to admit defeat. It is hard to fail. It is hard when people you trusted in let you down. It is especially hard when the people you are working with don’t want to go the same direction you want to go. As difficult as it may be, the last thing we need to do is run away. However, that is exactly what we do sometimes when we are embarrassed.

In this instance, let us learn from the apostle Paul. The first we learn of Saul of Tarsus, he was consenting to the death of Stephen. He was involved in what is described as a “great persecution” against the church. He “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3). It wasn’t long before he would have to face the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He came to the reality that Jesus Christ is the Savior of those who believe and obey through the events on the road to Damascus and in the teaching of Ananias (Acts 9,22,26). Ananias challenged him with the greatest question of all, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Paul was able to put his past mistakes behind him and move forward as a servant of the Lord.

When we make mistakes that turn out to be contrary to the will of God or when we try to do something thinking we are doing right but it turns out to be oh so wrong, we must not give up. We can change our lives and get right back to doing great things for Christ and His church. Oh, we may never forget those mistakes, but we can be forgiven of them and we can learn from them. Notice what Paul said about his former life: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief...This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:12-15). What is amazing to me is that Paul tried so hard to do what he thought was right...and yet he was as wrong as could be. He sincerely gave it his best. He said in this passage he did it in ignorance and in a lack of faith in Christ. In Acts 23:1, he said that he had lived his life in “all good conscience before God until this day.” He did his absolute best with the best intentions, but he was wrong. When faced with the truth of his actions, Paul admitted his mistakes and learned from them. He then went to work for the Lord.

Notice the continuation of his thoughts for 1 Timothy 1:16: “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” Paul is a pattern for us in many ways. For the purpose of this discussion, he is an example of what we do when we gave it our best, trying to do what is right, thinking we were on the right side of the equation, only to find out that we were wrong. When we are wrong, it is not the end of the world...as long as we repent and get right back to work for the Lord doing things His way. God is patient and longsuffering and He wants us to repent (2 Peter 3:9). We can overcome our mistakes through Christ.

Of course we realize that none of us are perfect and righteous before God in all things (Rom. 3:10). We realize that we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Yes, we understand that sin hurts God, others and even ourselves. Learn from David in his sins with Bathsheba: “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). He didn’t run and hide. He wanted to be restored to God and then he said he would “teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You” (vs.12,13). There is no need to be embarrassed. We all make mistakes and need God’s grace. While difficult to bear at times, sins are not fatal if we repent of them, learn from them, and then get to work for Lord.