How are you doing today? Most believers might answer, “I am a sinner saved by grace.” That reminds me of a verse found in 1 Corinthians 15:10 where Paul writes, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” When I look at my own life, I realize that it is only by the grace of God that I am who I am today. God’s grace leads us down many paths.
I think back to the early 80’s while visiting in Massachusetts, I was introduced to a man, named Frank Constantino. I enjoyed talking with Frank. We became friends even though we were very different in many respects. Frank had been born in Boston but had moved to Miami and there began his life of crime. He had been sentenced to 22 years and while in prison met the Lord. He was released early.
In 2007 while at a biker event at New Port Richey Harley Davidson I met a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association named Nick “the Greek” Pirovolos. He too was an infamous criminal who had literally stolen millions of dollars and was in prison for a 25-year stint. He came to know the Lord while in prison as well and was released. Later he became a CMA member.
Sometime later I met Jack “Murf the Surf” Murphy in Crystal River another infamous criminal responsible for the largest jewel heist in history. Also convicted of other crimes and murder, he was sentenced to two life sentences plus 20 years. He too met the Lord in prison and was released early.
What do these men have in common? What significance do these three men have in my life? I’m certain the Lord put them in my life for a reason. All were ‘bad guys’ who had a common thread of being in prison and being rescued by the Lord. They all had connections. Frank Constantino, Jack “Murf the Surf” Murphy, and Nick “The Greek” Pirovolos were all friends. They mention each other in their writings. After coming to know Jesus, they all became involved in prison ministry sharing their faith in the Lord with others.
Getting to know these men reminded me that although we had totally different backgrounds, we were much closer than I realized. Without Jesus in our lives, we were all lost, living without hope. I may have been a police officer, but I was just as lost as they were at one point in time. Even though our pasts were so different, by God’s grace, I developed a love for these men because of Christ. They each played a role in softening my heart towards men I would otherwise hate or despise because of their criminal backgrounds.
Through those relationships I realized that God by His grace has been working on me for years, teaching me that all men and women are created in His image, and He therefore loves them and seeks them out even when they are sinners. (Romans 5:8)
These relationships reminded me of the phrase “except for the grace of God go I.” That phrase expresses that one’s circumstances could be very different without God’s grace and intervention in our lives. It was back in the 16th century that John Bradford a protestant clergyman said those words when he saw criminals being led to execution. He thought about the fact that he could very well be in their position if it was not for God’s grace.
My pride so easily gets in the way of my relationship with God and those around me. It’s quite easy for me to think I’m so much better than the sinner over there. So, God doesn’t let me go. No, he captures my heart through the likes of these three men I have met throughout the years in various places who have a common bond with me through Jesus. I realize that we all have been chosen by the Lord for His purpose.
God is constantly weaving people and circumstances into our lives that draw us closer to himself. He is constantly teaching us the significance of our relationship with him. Even the little things in life are a testimony to God’s constant faithfulness, mercy, and grace on our behalf. I have many stories of folks I have met in my life and later through another person they have re-entered my life with new meaning. God has a network of people and things he uses in each of our lives to transform us into the people He wants us to be. We are all being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ to reveal the Lord’s glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The miraculous grace of God changes us, unites us, and brings Him glory. I can’t help but think of 1 Peter 2:9-10 where we read, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Life isn’t about me or Frank Constantino, Jack “Murf the Surf” Murphy, or Nick “The Greek” Pirovolos. It’s all about Jesus!
In Christ,
David ‘PK’ VanderKlay