God Loves Big Buts

God Loves Big Buts!

You read it right!

Have you ever noticed that the phrase, “But God” appears in many places in the Bible. Often, it’s to introduce the idea of God’s compassion and intervention, but it’s also somewhat analogous to what happens just after or during the “cliff hanger” in a TV series or after a dramatic ending of a chapter in a book. It’s where the situation seems hopeless, there seems to be no way out; but then the hero, the calvary, the helicopter or Chuck Norris appears to rescue the lost and save the day. I think God loves big buts. I know I do, because I’ve experienced some really big “but God” moments in my life.

Before I tell you about some of my big “but God” moments, here are some examples of Bible verses that use the phrase “but God”.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able” ( Romans 6:23).

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life…”(Ephesians 2:4-6).

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20 —This is Joseph speaking, who was sold into slavery by his 11 brothers, but God rescued Joseph and eventually made him the second most powerful man in Egypt where Joseph prepared Egypt for a seven-year famine).

“When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead…” (Acts 13:29-30).

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

“But God remembered Noah and all of the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded” (Genesis 8:1).

“I had sunk down deep below the mountains beneath the sea. I knew that forever, I would be a prisoner there. But you, LORD God, rescued me from the pit” (Jonah 2:6).

I can really relate to Jonah’s words above, because on the night God rescued me, I hopelessly stared at the gates of hell. But God thankfully had other plans for me. He reminded me of what I heard on the radio regarding the fact that Christ died as a payment for the sins of those who would trust in him as LORD and Savior. I recalled hearing that salvation is not earned by good works or religious activity, but that it is a gift bought at the price of Christ’s death on the cross as a payment for sin’s debt — a debt no one except Christ is worthy to pay.

That momentous night, a great burden was lifted from my heart as I experienced the spiritual rescue of my soul. During the following days, I looked up some of the verses I had heard on KSIV-FM. This was one that really stuck out to me since I had grown up going to church, but could never remember hearing the concept of grace: “God saved you by grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT).

And here are just a few of the big “but God” moments in my life:

John Muckerman lied and cheated in his first marriage, but God so loved John that God gave his only Son as a payment for John’s many sins so that John would not perish but have eternal life.

John’s second wife left John, but God so loved John that he used the divorce to give John a mission in life for which John is eternally grateful.

John was deeply saddened by his unfaithfulness and failure in his marriage, but God sent the message of the Gospel to John through Bible teachers on KSIV Radio (91.5FM) and put a desire in John’s heart to repent and seek God.

After his divorces John walked away from most of his money and possessions, but God protected  John’s retirement funds so that John could eventually retire from his business career and use his time participating with God in THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20).

John was not writing and communicating as much as he felt God wanted him to about his experiences, insights and blessings from God; but God graciously allowed John to have a minor stroke so as to remind John about how brief his time on earth will be, that his days are numbered and not to be wasted.

What are some of your favorite big “but God” moments in your life? Please feel free to share them on the FATC FORUM, but in any case I suggest you give thanks for them and the fact that God Loves Big Buts.