246. Dead Man Walking

“I was reading in the Book of Ephesians this morning,” Stan began, “and was reminded of something that is attributed to the American author Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.”

“What’s that?” I responded.

“Although there seem to be different versions of the same story,” Stan replied, “it appears there were reports that Samual Clemens had fallen ill and died.  When he heard about it, he is reported to have said something like, ‘The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

“What in the Book of Ephesians could make you think of Mark Twain?” I asked.

Rather than answer my question directly, Stan replied, “Not only did I think of him, I thought of myself, where the apostle Paul is talking about being dead in trespasses and sins.”

“At the point of my conversion and acceptance of Christ’s finished work on the cross,” Stan continued, “it was clear to me that any reports of my being dead in my trespasses and sins against God were not only not an exaggeration, they were the absolute truth.  I was a dead man walking.”

“Dead man walking,” I repeated.  “Did you know you were dead?”

“Before my conversion?  Absolutely not!” Stan exclaimed.  “I was fully happy living the life of self and the life of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  I thought that was a reflection of what life was supposed to be all about.”

“Then the truth was shown to me by people who cared enough to bring me to the truth.”

“And,” Stan continued, “I am eternally grateful that God brought those people into my life so that my status as a dead person was changed for when I step into eternity, as well as for the life I live on this side of eternity before then.”

Concluding, he said, “It is my thankfulness to God for His provision of no longer being a dead man walking, that I am dedicating myself to help others see the truth of conversion followed by transformation so they, too, may stop being among the walking dead.”

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And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Ephesians 2: 1, 2.

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for bringing people into my life who showed me the truth of being dead in my sins and trespasses against you.  I was dead in my ignorance of you.  I was truly a dead man walking according to the ways of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  You rescued me from that death and I am eternally grateful.  As my thanks for all you have done to rescue me from that death, I am yours to use in whatever ways you want to bring truth to others.  The truth of conversion and the truth of transformation.  Please lead and help me to follow your lead however you want.  Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.