If We Were a Bible Character – Onesimus

If we were a Bible character; our life, men had read.

From the pages of Scripture, just what would be said?

If God were writing our profile today,

To record in His Word; just what would it say?

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:” Philemon 1:10

Onesimus, a “son in the faith” to the apostle Paul, was converted while in prison. I love how Paul immediately gives evidence, in verse 11, of this believer’s salvation by comparing his past with his present:

“Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:” Philemon 1:11

From unprofitable to profitable, the testimony of Onesimus is a clear example of II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Before salvation, Onesimus’ life was unprofitable concerning the work of the Lord, but now, Paul himself is benefiting from this profitable servant of God!

Reading the above passage this morning immediately reminded me of a conversation I had last night after church. While talking with a dear lady, she began to express her strong desire to serve the Lord. Having been saved later in life, she felt such a heavy burden of wasted years. As I looked at her and noticed tears in her eyes, I knew that these were not just words she was speaking. Her new life in Christ had put such a fervent desire within her…a desire to live the rest of her life in a profitable way…a desire to live for her Saviour! Although I knew she was indeed serving the Lord in various ways, she wanted to do more! Yes, the love that Christ had shown in dying for her was now constraining her to live for HIM!  “For the love of Christ constraineth us …” II Corinthians 5:14

As in the life of Onesimus, does our life portray a “past” and “present”? There is certainly the need to allow time for growth in baby Christians, but, at salvation, was there evidence that we passed from death to life? And then, as Christians,  is it our sincere desire to become more and more “profitable”…for the glory of GOD?

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”  Titus 3:8 

~ Rachel ~