CJ Mahaney, a man whom I admire, leads Sovereign Grace ministries (the family of churches that our family is a part of) with humility and godly wisdom. I’m thankful to have him be one of the leaders that our pastors and churches follow. Last week I listened to the story of his conversion. I had heard the story before but I’m not sure I’d heard him tell it in his own words. To sum it up, he was a young man who was happy with his life, had no knowledge of the gospel or of Christian life, was wrapped up in the drug culture and good at it. God interrupted all of this when a friend shared the gospel with him while he was smoking marijuana and he was transformed to have faith in Jesus immediately. He wasn’t seeking. He wasn’t unhappy. But God, who is rich in mercy, intervened and has used CJ to help thousands of people keep the gospel central in their lives.

About three hours after listening to this testimony I was on my way to a 4th of July parade with my children. As we walked to the parade route, a family was walking a little ahead of us. I immediately began to sum them up. The mom had long dyed black hair down to her waist with all black clothing. The dad had a mohawk ponytail and a heavy metal type t-shirt. One of the boys, who looked about 9 years old, had a mohawk as well. I was very quick to sum them up as being a “rough” family. Not someone I would become friends with. Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted when the dad called back to his son and said, “C’mon CJ.”

Immediately my thought pattern changed from what was a sinfully judgmental way of writing this family off to suddenly having hope for them because of the gospel influence on CJ Mahaney’s life.  Did God place me there at that time to remind me that he saves those whom he wants to save, not because they have a certain lifestyle or look a certain way? What’s in a name? In this case the name was a very important reminder that I was not saved because I was a good person. In fact I was saved in spite of the fact that I thought I was a good person and that I felt superior to other people who looked “rougher” than me. My sins were pure ugliness; so repulsive that the Father could not even stand to look at them. The only thing that makes me beautiful and good in God’s eyes is the work of Christ on the cross. His perfection became mine.

I didn’t think I’d ever see CJ or his family again.  After all, I live in a heavily populated area and the parade was not even in the city I live in. Just a few days after the 4th we were driving by a grocery store near our home and my husband pointed out a dad and his son on bikes. Sure enough it was CJ and his dad. I knew I needed to pray that God would grant them faith to believe in his Son. So, as I prayed silently I was able to pray for at least one of them by name.

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