The Instrument

The Instrument, An Introduction

This book is about the Apostle John, but it’s not…

It is about the power and presence of Jesus Christ that lived in John and enabled him to live a life of faith, walking it out from the moment he met Jesus until he closed his eyes on earth and entered eternity. This book is about the power of the life of Jesus lived out in John the Disciple, John the Apostle, John the Persecuted, John the Elder and finally, John the Revealer. This book is about the power to find your purpose and walk it out from the moment of knowing and accepting Christ until you close your eyes and enter eternity. This book is about saying Yes to being an instrument in the hands of our Almighty God, willing to do whatever He asks, to go wherever He leads you. This book is about you, your life, your destiny, your purpose, your choices. It is about saying Yes to the purpose that stands in front of you each day in each season of your life, knowing that you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works designed especially for you.

I became a Christian at age forty, having been raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and spending many years choosing not to include God in my life’s pursuits, not because I didn’t want to acknowledge God, but because I was confused about how to correctly do that. I followed many secular paths, searching but never quite finding the thing that rang true and captured my heart enough for me to linger. After many years spent following different paths, Christ rescued me from my wanderings and called me His own, leading me to His path of truth. I am so thankful for His light in my life, thankful that His light in me allows me to be a light to others. Learning what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ ended my confusion, taught me truth, showed me love and ended my search for fulfillment and purpose.

As I settled into this relationship, I knew with certainty that this was truth and it was where I wanted to remain. I wanted to learn all I could, wanted to dig deep and understand the truths that my heavenly Father shared in His word. I wanted to be an instrument in the hands of my Lord, even when I had no knowledge of what that might look like. I will freely and unashamedly admit that I have a love of knowledge and I am quite literal and analytical in my thinking. I am not usually detail oriented, but I like to have a good grasp of the bigger picture. And, I am an extreme introvert, necessitating lots of alone time in order to process the things I learn. I carried these characteristics into my studies of the Bible, not prepared for the depth of God’s word. My love of knowledge was used by God to take me on a journey I never anticipated. I am still on that journey, seeking not just knowledge but His wisdom. As God says the same, I delight in continuing to study to show myself approved (2 Timothy 2:15) until the end of my appointed time.

I began my studies of God’s word with a ‘read through the Bible in a year’ program. I definitely remember reading late into the evening on one December 31, trying to finish the Bible in a calendar year. I was familiar with the Bible on a very basic level then, but these many years later, even with continual study, I know that I’ve not yet plumbed the depths of God’s word. It is not unusual for me to read a familiar passage and find myself in tears over a new revelation, blessed and renewed by God’s Holy Spirit yet again.

My initial readings ignited my thirst, starting me on a delightful journey that had me returning time and again to a favorite destination: the gospel message of John. Reading John I learned to know and love my Savior more. The gospel of John is where I saw a ‘fleshed-out’ Jesus; where I saw the humanity of Jesus, His deity, His power, His authority and His tender love for all mankind. I also see Jesus following the will of His Father all the way to the cross. Each time I read the Gospel of John, annotated by the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus becomes more real to me - more God and more human at the same time, strengthening my faith and helping me understand that truth is only found in the word of God.

Scripture gives us many examples of faithful humans who had an encounter with God, chose Him as LORD, and walked with Him until the end of their lives. The Apostle John is one of many. Think about the other disciples (except Judas), Moses, Noah, Samuel, David, John the Baptist, Paul, Peter, and others – all of them willing instruments in the hand of God. God has given us many models for our journey. Studying the life of John and others, I see a roadmap for our own growth as we walk faithfully with God. We need these roadmaps and encouragement because life on earth gets hard. This life is full of doubt, disappointments, confusion, heartache, and death – the things that try a man’s soul. God knew we would need the examples and encouragement of Scripture to keep going.