My name is Jeanni and I am a sinner. Truth be told, I always have been. I was born this way. Born with a sinful nature. Doing the things I know I shouldn’t do, but still doing it. Paul wrote in Romans,
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
It’s the part of me I am not proud of. I doubt anyone can say they are proud of being a sinner. Kanye included.
Yes, I am a sinner. As is Kanye. As are you. We are all born that way. But thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. The storyboard that the enemy drew up (which he hoped would lead me to death) was torn to shreds and trampled on by the One who created me in His image. Instead of death, He gave me new life. A life that was only possible because of what Jesus did on the cross that day.
And guess what?
The same Jesus that died on the cross for me and my sinful nature, died for Kanye and his sins too. And for you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 NKJV
Notice it says whoever. Whoever simply means “whatever person: no matter who”. There is no particular income level, nationality, look, style, or sin, that would keep you from being able to accept the love and what Jesus did for you. Jesus would leave the 99, just to find you.
He did that for me. He did that for Kanye.
And guess what? There is a purpose God has placed in both of our lives, just like there is with yours. It goes far beyond any earthly wealth or influence. Our purpose is one with eternal significance. So it breaks my heart to see people come at Kanye. Waiting for him to fail. Waiting for one wrong move. Watching and waiting. But I also know that when we stand up for Jesus, the enemy truly “does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” It is expected.
I was never a fan of Kanye. That is the truth. I didn’t like his music. I didn’t like his actions. In fact, some of his actions really bothered me. But it doesn’t matter what I thought. It matters what God thought and I know it bothered Him much more. Knowing the beautiful plan he had for Kanye’s life, seeing him make the wrong moves, pained Him. I think in terms of being a parent, the same would be true if I watched my children make the wrong moves. Being completely truthful, God has been pained too many times to count by my life as well. My decisions to go against what He wanted for me. But He never once left me. He never turned His back on me. His door was always open. Waiting until I was ready to accept what He had done for me and to begin the process of becoming the better version of myself. Not perfect, but progressing.
I can tell you that sometimes my decisions have led me astray. Led me down paths that I was never meant to go. Decisions that in retrospect were ones I regretted. The one decision that I have never regretted or second-guessed, was when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Even through the trials, the heartbreaking times, God never left me. I might not have felt His presence, but He was there. I cannot imagine going through this life without Jesus. I want that for everyone. And I am so thankful that the same Jesus that saved me, saved Kanye. I will never be the one to second-guess his salvation. Instead, I cheer it. I am excited to see how God is going to use him to reach people that need Jesus.
Maybe you have come to the realization that something has been off in your life. Maybe there have been times when God has tried to make himself known, but you have shut him out. Maybe you’re just tired. Tired of trying to do everything on your own, filling voids in your life with substances, people, or things, and it all leaves you empty. Maybe it’s time to lay it all down at the foot of the cross and leave it all behind you.
That’s what I did. That’s what Kanye did.
Even if you think you are too far from who you need to be or where you need to be, to be loved and accepted by Jesus, please know that you are not. You are never too far from the love of Jesus. All it takes is a simple prayer. A prayer in which you turn away from your sins and accept Jesus into your life. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be anything anyone else says. It can be like this… Jesus, I thank you that you waited for me and you loved me through it all. Forgive me of my sins as I turn away from my former life. I ask you to be my Lord and Savior from this day forward. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you just said that simple prayer, or your own, please find a local Bible-teaching church and surround yourself with fellow believers.
At the end of it all, the eternal significance of what has happened with me, Kanye, and maybe you, is that life doesn’t end here. The enemy has already lost to God. That happened all those years ago when the veil was torn. No matter what anyone says about my faith or Kanye’s, or maybe now yours, the battle has been won. Our salvation is secured. Jesus is King.
