Thought for the Month - July 2009

"How to fail successfully" By Barry Adair

(and be in good company!)

Failure is perhaps a strange topic to think about but what’s been occupying my mind for a while this month. But before you move on to something else, please read on, it's not all doom and gloom!

I thought of the many many times that I have failed. Failed my parents, failed my wife, failed my kids, failed my exams and of course failed my Creator. Then I remembered that everyone else who will read this has also failed. OK, perhaps not failed as much as I have, but failed nonetheless. And you know something? - we are in good company! Here are the (successful) failures of a couple of famous names from history…

Bill Gates, founder and former boss of Microsoft, has literally changed the work culture of the world by simplifying the way personal computers are used. He is one of the world's richest men but in the 1970's he was a Harvard University drop-out!

Ludwig van Beethoven, a famous German composer of classical music, is widely regarded as one of history's supreme composers. Before the start of his career, Beethoven's music teacher once said of him "as a composer, he is hopeless". And during his career, he lost his hearing yet still managed to produce truly great music.

Thomas Edison is one the most prolific inventors in history, holding hundreds of patents to his name. When he was a boy his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything! He tried literally thousands of times before he created the first successful light bulb.

And from the Bible, here’s a list of great Old Testament believers who, lets say, led less than consistent and faithful lives! Some of them made pretty significant blunders:

Aaron, Abraham, Adam and Eve, Eli, Isaac, Jacob, King David, King Saul, King Solomon, Lot, Moses and Samson.

If we look at the lives of these great characters, we can see that God still used them – in spite of their failings. People can be haunted by past mistakes. We need to remember that God is in the business of binding up wounds, of seeking the lost, and of restoring the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25).

Mind you, the one failure that did hit me as being very significant is the failure to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

As Jesus hung dying on the cross, two criminals hung on crosses beside Him. Only one man accepted the free gift of salvation. That man went to Paradise (Heaven) that very day with Jesus. The other man's failure to accept Jesus had truly eternal consequences!

Failure is an important part of Life. Life is a testing ground for Eternity. Eternity where?

In the saddest verse in the Bible, John declares that anyone whose name is not written in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Please ensure that this is one failure that you do not make.
Anyone can come to God for forgiveness and new life. He accepts us, failures and all and is willing and able to forgive us when we call on Him.
Just remember the thief who listened to Jesus. Although he had failed in life, his acceptance of Jesus Christ took him to Paradise… a successful failure indeed!

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Your cross,
Jesus, I come to You.

(William True Sleeper)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!