The Power of a Changed Life

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way … in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left.

2 Corinthians 6:4a, 7

The gospel destroys arguments and humbles pride by presenting the indisputable record of changed lives. It produces righteousness in people. Here are weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left (2 Corinthians 6:7). The gospel has demonstrated that it works, that it changes people. That record of changed lives has power to break down arguments and to humble pride. The Scripture uses a beautiful phrase to describe the consistent life of a believer: the beauty of holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29). There is no beauty like it; that marvelous charm in a life that is right, balanced, wholesome, dedicated to the Son of God. The beauty of holiness! There is nothing else like it. It is powerfully compelling to unbelievers.

An illustration of this powerful appeal of the gospel is in the experience of Dr. H. A. Ironside. For years he was a captain of the Salvation Army in San Francisco. Frequently the Salvation Army would march down Market Street and hold open-air meetings down by the Ferry Building. At one of these meetings, young Harry was challenged by an atheist as to the truth and power of the Christian gospel. He spoke very eloquently, answering the claims of the gospel in an intellectual way. But Harry stopped him by proposing a challenge. He said, Look. You say that our message is not the truth, and that we're teaching people a lie. I'd like to propose something to you: Next week let's meet here again on this spot. You bring with you an individual who has been a drunkard or a prostitute or has known evil in some open, flagrant form, but who has been changed by your message of atheism. Bring him with you, and let him bring testimony to the change that has come by believing the teachings of atheism. For everyone you bring, I'll bring a hundred with me who have been set free by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The man said. I'm sorry, I can't meet you on those terms. Surely that is the power of the gospel.

We must open our eyes to the power of a Christian in today's society. Surely the bankruptcy of other approaches is increasingly apparent in our day. Leaders of various other approaches to society's ills confess openly their failure and their inability to solve these problems. We must see that this good news of Jesus Christ is the only hope for society. It always has been, and it always will be. Surely we need to declare this in a world that has gone wrong at its very base.

Father, how desperately the world needs the healing remedy that flows from Jesus Christ! Thank you for the light that streams from the cross, and I ask that I may declare this message in its full power. Amen.