Can or Will…..

Can or Will?

“But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:8‬

Have you ever thought of the use of those two words?  Can or will. Sometimes we ask our kids to do something for us and depending on which word we use - it can illicit an undesired response. 

“Can” you help me versus “will” you help me.  Although someone can do something doesn’t necessarily mean they will.  

I’ve asked myself so many times - “can God use me?”  Can God actually use someone like me?  It becomes so overwhelming at times to think of all things I’ve done in my life, the things I continue to do - those things that pull at me.  And He can still use me?

If I continue to use “can” instead of “will”, there will always be an option. Every time we use the word “can” it depicts a choice or an “only if I” preemptive. 

“Can” says that I have to do something for myself so that I can be saved. That I need to clean up my act, turn from my sin or let go of something before I turn to Him to save me. 

God can use everyone one of us, however He will only use those that come to Him to be saved for eternal life. 

Often times I’ve felt unworthy of God’s redemptive sacrifice. So much so that it makes me feel I don’t deserve it. My daily battles with myself only solidify what a mess I can be. It’s not self pity, it’s self realization. Some days are good. Some are mediocre and sometimes I feel like I don’t do anything to bring glory to God. 

I don’t pretend to be the standard. I know what the standard is and I try with every fiber to let go of what I think, what I’m doing and what my goals and ambitions are - for His.  The struggle is real.  Our minds confuse our souls and play tricks on us.  

We are in constant battles in our own heads. Our hearts have good intentions, but the people we are, the minds we have - they are at war with our souls.  We’ve read how Paul battled within himself in Romans 7. A masterpiece of a conflict, shared to the world. 

You see, it’s not that Jesus “can” use us, it’s that He “will” use us.  “Can” would declare that there was an option to let us perish. As if God could, by some desire, let us go and let us spend eternity in hell.  We are His creation, why at all would He want us to fail or to perish?‬

When we actually stop and realize that it has absolutely nothing to do with what we think or what we believe we bring to the table. We don’t determine the outcome. We aren’t the ones that are getting God to change His mind or to move the pieces differently.  We are sinners. We will never be perfect. And in His perfect way, God “will” use us when we come to Him.  His desire is that none of us would perish. 

““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16

Sure we can make decisions, go about our way, live our lives the way we want to - all without God.  We can make all the good and bad decisions that we want to. All without God.  Our lives may turn out okay or maybe not. Then one day we will die. Everyone will die. And everyone will have an outcome after death. For those without God, there is hell. An unpleasant place with an eternity of torment.  All for a life of “being a good person” or not “hurting anyone” or living with lies in your head about who you are. Or maybe even turning into a butterfly. 

I tried the first part of that life. It wasn’t bad.  Most of it. I got to forty-nine years old without any major hiccups or so I thought. 

But looking back, it was a mess. Nothing bad happened to me until three years ago. I made a mess of my life before that. Nothing anyone would see on the outside, but on the inside - I needed Jesus. I couldn’t do it anymore on my own, I had already failed miserably. 

This was my Simon Peter moment.  I fell at Jesus’s knees because I finally realized that Jesus is the only person that would save me.

It doesn’t matter how you come to Jesus. He “will” use you. You may never see how God is using you. You may be a blessing in someone else’s life, you may be someone else’s miracle - you may even be blessed yourself by God.  God “will” use every single person that comes to Him. 

There’s no difference in our lives - the saved and the unsaved - other than God.  We will both sin. Make good and bad choices. Struggle with our minds.  Influence people and encourage some. And we will all die. 

I think about what my life would’ve been like away from God. What it would be like if I never realized that I needed Him. I think about how I couldn’t go to God in prayer for others. Or how I couldn’t pray for those who I know aren’t saved. Others wouldn’t be blessed by God’s grace or mercy on our behalf.  We wouldn’t be able to pray to God or turn to Him when we need Him the most.

“Can” says that it’s up to me. That I determine how I can come to Jesus. 

However, when I replace the “can” with “will” - it changes everything. 

You see, nothing changes on God’s end. Nothing at all. His desire is that every person should be saved. He sent His son to die for us - not some of us - all of us. 

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:17‬

All we have to do is to realize that we will never save ourselves. It’s impossible. We can’t! Only Jesus can save us. 

There is an eternity after death.  And when you turn your life to Jesus you can spend an eternity with Him. 

He will use you. You just have to decide if you will follow Him. 

“For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and likewise also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:9-11‬