When God cleans you up............

By Shawn Thrasher

I had the great pleasure this past Saturday of attending a Seminary graduation of a dear brother. I am not a big fan of graduations because I have always felt like the administrators know you are ready to just get the diploma and go but for this graduation I was excited to attend because I was able to witness the great power of God.

As I entered the graduation I was excited to see a dear friend not only graduate but be united with family from afar as they come to bask in this celebration. I know your probably thinking "this is just a graduation"! O no, I have had the opportunity to learn of my friends testimony. Here is a young man who was born into a home without a father, involved in drug dealing, drug consumption (alcohol included) and whatever else the mean streets of New Orleans could offer; but when God cleans you up......

In John chapter 9 verses 1-41, Jesus healed the man that was born blind. The first thing the disciples asked Jesus " “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Our situations and our lot in life is so that the works of God might be displayed in us. God cleans us up to put Himself on display! The blind man gained his sight and people did not believe he was once the blind man who was a beggar. When God cleans you up many people won't believe in the fact that you are not who you used to be. The blind man's parents had to come and testify that the man that now can see was the one who was born blind.

The blind man made it clear when he said " although I was once blind, now I see"! The blind mans testimony reminds me of my friends testimony in that he was blinded by sin an but has been made to see by Christ Jesus. The text goes on to say that the blind man knew that Jesus had made him to see and that the blind man became a disciple of Christ. My brother Ricardo has been made to see and has become a disciple of Christ. Jesus has given him sight and has blessed him as a Husband and father of two daughters, a preacher of God's word and someone who is trying to lead a righteous life. This new life is far from the life of old, many might not recognize him as that once blind man, but when God cleans you up.... What more can I say.

In conclusion not only has Ricardo turned from the ways of the streets to Christ, but one other thing excited me as I sat in my pew and opened the program; to see my friend and knowing his testimony graduate from his class Magna Cum Laude!!!! Praise God for his cleansing hand!!



New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:3.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:2.