I have argued that there is a pattern of love in marriage ordained by God. The roles of husband and wife are not the same. The husband is to takes his special cues from Christ as the head of the church. The wife is to take her special cues from the church as submissive to Christ. In doing this the sinful and damaging results of the Fall begin to be reversed. The Fall twisted man’s loving headship into hostile domination in some men and lazy indifference in others. The Fall twisted woman’s intelligent, willing submission into manipulative obsequiousness in some women and brazen insubordination in others.
John Piper

You Can’t Do It, But Jesus Can

You Can’t Do It, But Jesus Can

You Can’t Do It, But Jesus Can

by David Daniel Wertman

I was a fast starter in the computer industry. And having begun in1965, I can now honestly say I have been in it, or at least at it,for 30 years. In that time, I achieved a lot. In fact, I have donejust about everything you can do in computers. Starting in the 60s, Iwas an operator, then programmer, then analyst, then customersupport, then sales, then marketing, then Vice President, andPresident of several Computer companies. I have wired boards,programmed in numerous different languages, designed circuitry, evenetched my own boards. I sold computer services, computer hardware,and software. And I managed at all levels. As VP of Sales andMarketing for Tecmar (the first company with add-on peripherals forthe IBM PC) I took the company from less than $1MM in sales to atracking rate of over $20 MM in less than 3 years.

In 1981, BillGates (of then tiny little Microsoft) took me to lunch (he evenbought) to talk about industry directions. What a rush! I was on topof it all! But somehow, it just didn’t seem like enough. I leftTecmar, founded my own Peripherals company, was soon acquired by apublicly held company, and it still just didn’t seem like enough. Ireached out for more in selfish greed. I worshiped at the altar ofconspicuous consumption, deviant pleasures, and the false god of&”;self.&”; And sin was the offering to these false gods. Butthey were never satisfied, their cry was for – more – more – more -and I just couldn’t keep up. Although I didn’t know what I wasseeking, I became increasing aware that the World could not provideit.

Then after yet another company, and another success, I began toask the question again; Is this all there is? But this time, itreally was different. Before I even could begin to answer thatquestion, it all began to fall apart. First the business went, thenthe marriage, and quickly thereafter, the house, and the cars,everything. Then, after 2 years of being unemployed, I still couldn’teven get a job because, no one wanted to hire an ex-CompanyPresident. “Too Qualified” was always the explanation.

I was evictedfrom a trailer where I had been temporarily living. So suddenly I hadnothing. I had even lost hope. I did not know where I would move, Ihad no friends (amazing how often friends and money and position, allleave together) and I was truly lost. I was a 46 year old, one time”whiz kid”, with all the answers, who now didn’t know what to do, oreven where to turn. Then God stretched out His hand of loving mercyto me through a radio message (the station I was listening to, fadedout and another message came in) from Dr. David Jeremiah (TurningPoint Ministries). The message was “handling adversity”, and all Ireally heard was that “you can’t do it”.. I knew that was true,because I had tried for years and failed. But Dr. Jeremiah said “ButJesus can do it. With Him in your life, It Can Be Done!”

I sat downon the steps of the trailer I was being evicted from, and asked JesusChrist to come into my life. And as I prayed, and cried, for thefirst time I remembered my baptism at age 8. And through the tears inmy eyes and in my heart, I saw myself sitting there as that 8 yearold boy. And Jesus stood by me with His hand on my shoulder. He said”My son, I never left you. It was you who turned away from me.” Hewas right, and I knew it. I had chosen the world before, but not now!I will never turn from him again! I started out by saying to God, OKGod, Let’s Go! I am ready, Use Me! And then I just sat there andwaited for God to use me.

It never occurred to me that as a friendlater advised, “No one, Not even GOD”, needs to steer a parked car.And besides, why would He use me. A man whose pride still kept himaccepting work that was below him. Why would anyone who looked atwhat I was doing (nothing), see anything in my life that honored God.So, finally convicted, I began to stand up. I stood, not in pride,but in faith and in character. I figured that if I got moving, Godwould direct my path. I signed up with a temporary agency and amusedmyself by comparing my day’s wages earned by the sweat of my brow,with an hour’s wages from a previous time. So I worked as a thirdshift laborer for minimum wage, and since I came to Christ, I alsohave been without work. But through It all God has continued tosustain me. He has shown me the difference between my desires forthings and real “need.” I once had it all. But still I had nothing -without Him! Now I have nothing. Yet now I have it all – In Him!

MyFavorite Verses say what God has done for me. He has saved me! And Hehas shown me that my only real need is for Him!. Most everyone knowsof Philippians 4:13 which in the KJV reads, “I can do all thingsthrough Christ which strengtheneth me.” But my joy and understandingbegins in Phil 4:11, and goes through to 4:13. So I have made theseverses my Life Verses, because I don’t ever want to forget about whatis really important; my relationship with God. Not even the materialthings that He gives are to be coveted. Nor are they to be held tootightly. But it is His gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christwhich is of lasting importance. And so, it is written, and I havelearned: Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I havelearned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.. Phil4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to behungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Phil 4:13 I can do allthings through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Brothers and sisters, Ihave had it both ways. I took the fullness of what the world offeredand found it hollow; I gorged myself on it’s rich, sweet promises,and tasted the bitterness of its’ shallow and unfulfilled lies. Butnow I have the riches of fellowship with God the Father, throughJesus Christ, God the Son, and in the Power of God the Holy Spirit.He supplies all my “needs” . I Praise God for His Love, His Grace,and His Mercy on a poor sinner like me. Once I was sure that I wouldnever get any of it back; the money, the power, and such. And thatconcerned me, because I still wanted it. But then I began to wonderwhat I would do if I did have it back. And that thought scared me. Sofor a while, I actually feared getting it back. I reasoned that sinceI am weak. (And that is not just a statement of false humility, thisis true. I really am exceedingly weak!), I would just use it badlyanyway.

Then as God continued to show His Faithfulness and Hissufficiency, I lost my desire to even have it back. But guess what?As I truly gave it over to Him, and loosened the grip of my desire,He slowly began to give it back again. Not all of it, and not all atonce. But He started out by getting me a job in computers again. (Iwon’t go into the details here, but how it came about was amazing.)The money isn’t much, but I don’t really need much. And I enjoy thework. And I actually work for a good man who is a Christian! But notall has been smooth sailing.

After I had been on the job for a coupleof months, my Boss told me that the project would end shortly. Well Iwas more than a little upset. After all, I had plans now. I had againlearned what money can do. and I knew exactly what I wanted to dowith the money I was earning now, and suddenly it was going to end!Although much of my reaction was due to my own desires for myself, Ialso wondered how I would do the things that I wanted to do for God.I must honestly confess that it got to me. I was depressed for acouple of days. Yes, I was down, really down. But then there was thelight. I understood. God put me here! He knows where I am! And Godknows what I need! And He also knows what He wants me to do for Him.

So if He decides its time for me to move, I can’t wait to see what Hehas for me next! Instantly, I was not only at peace, I was downrightelated. I couldn’t wait to see what God was going to do next. Wellguess what! He surprised me again. I got a raise! But it was not onlya raise, it was the exact amount of additional money that I needed tobe able to move forward with Prevailing Life Ministries, and theSingle Victory Radio program. (And just in case you think my boss mayhave just decided to get me over the hump, no one but me, and God,knew how much more I needed. In fact, I don’t think my boss evenknows of my ministry. So he must have been led by the Holy Spirit togive me that raise.)

Well, there I was, being concerned about how Iwould do His work. And once again He showed me that I really can notdo it. But He can! And He can even use me, if I will just have faith,and trust in Him. I am now working on a complete chronicle of God’sMercy and His Faithfulness in my life. What you have read here, isonly a tiny, tiny part of it. I continue to be surprised and trulyamazed, as I think back on my life and see God’s hand. It beginsbefore I was born, and then certainly before I came to Him, throughJesus Christ, and I know it will go on, throughout eternity. Since Ihave not been one to Journal, it will take me some time to recall,and to complete, but He has been so good to me – I will do it! And Iwill share it! I want to share His goodness.

Thanks for reading this,and for caring about Him too! In God I Know, In Christ I Grow!