Life Is Not Always What It Seems
Abraham Lincoln – 16th President of the United States
• Born in 1809 to extremely poor parents.
• At age 7, they were kicked out of their house.
• At age 9, his mother died.
• 1831 he attempted his own business and
failed miserably.
• 1832 he ran for state legislature and lost.
• 1832 Applied to law school, but was unqualified.
• 1833 He tried another business and failed.
• 1835 He fell in love and was engaged to Ann Rutledge.
She died soon after the engagement.
• 1836 He had a nervous breakdown.
• 1838 He was defeated in his attempt to
become speaker of the state legislature.
• 1840 He lost his bid for elector of the state.
• 1843 He ran for Congress and lost.
• 1846 He ran for Congress and won.
• 1854 He ran for Senate and lost.
• 1856 He sought the vote for Vice President,
but received less that 100 votes.
• 1858 He ran for the U.S. Senate and lost.
• 1860 He was elected as President of the U.S.
• 1865 He was assassinated only five days after Lee’s
surrender. He died at the age of 56.
Charles Swindoll. Paul, A Man of Grace and Grit.
• Acts 7:58
“And when they had driven him
out of the city, they began
stoning him, and the witnesses
laid aside their robes at the feet
of a young man named Saul.”
• Acts 8:1-3
“And Saul was in hearty agreement with
putting him to death…Saul began ravaging
the church, entering house after house; and
dragging off men and women, he would put
them in prison.”
• 1 Tim 1:13, 15
“I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a
violent aggressor….that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. ”
•1 Cor 15:9
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God.”
Jesus Christ
• Paul Saw His Life As A Zealous Jew, Rising In The
Ranks Among the Pharisees.
• God Showed Him That He Was A Violent Aggressor.
• You Might See Yourself As A Good Person Who Really
Never Hurt Anyone.
• How Would God See You?
• Paul’s Goals Were to Excel to the Top of
Judaism.
• God Had A Different Plan For Paul.
• Acts 9:15-16
“But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen
instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the
Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will
show him how much he must suffer for My
name's sake.’”
Jesus Christ
• When We Understand God’s Plan Is The Only One That
Really Matters Then Everything Falls Into Place.
• Do I Go For That Big Promotion?
• Should I Marry This Person?
• Should I Move To This New City?
• Should I Take This Job?
• Should I Be Friends With This Person?
• Paul Saw His Life As Not Worth Saving, But Never Saw
God As Not Willing To Save Him.
• 1 Tim 1:15-16
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in
me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate
His perfect patience, as an example for those who
would believe in Him for eternal life.”
• 1 Cor 15:9-10
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to
be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church
of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more
than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with
me.”