Keion Henderson - First Impressions

I want to talk about first impressions. According to a Harvard research study, all of us, at the very least, make at least two judgments every time we see a person. So, every time we meet someone new, there are two things we ask ourselves. As you look at me right now, some of you have been watching us for many years, some of you within the last year, and some of you for the first time. If the Harvard research group is correct, you are currently asking yourself two questions as I speak to you. The first question you’re asking is: «Can I trust him?» The second question you’re asking is: «Can I respect him?» These are the two initial questions we ask when we are in the presence of new individuals: «Can I trust this person?» and «Can I respect this person?»

The ministry of John the Baptist was not long at all. Most theologians suggest that the entirety of his public ministry took place within the span of 6 to 12 months, not years, but months. This means this man, whom we discuss centuries after the fact, was able to make such an impact on the earth without social media, without the Internet, without magazines and newspapers, without wires, without telephones, and without cellular devices-no iPads, no Kindles- just ministry. In six to twelve months, he made an impact, and the world is still vibrating from his presence. John the Baptist 's ministry was brief, but it was definitely strong. He was there for only six to twelve months, but we know that after he had ministered for half a year to a year, the next event was his arrest. He didn 't break a law; he didn 't commit a crime. He was arrested for making way for the Lord, imprisoned for his message. He was arrested because he wouldn’t stay still; he was arrested because he had something to say. He was arrested for making way for someone who was much louder than him. He had a purpose, and I want to talk about that for a moment.

It’s what I call the scars of greatness. You never see anybody great without being arrested. You never see anyone great who hasn’t been rejected. You never see anyone great who hasn’t been scarred. You often see insecure people accomplishing some of the greatest things because through the scars of life, greatness is fulfilled. It’s why Joseph was such a great man. Think about this guy who was thrown in a pit, ostracized by his brothers. His father was misled into believing ferocious animals had eaten him, mourned over him for a few days, and moved on with his life while raising the other sons, eventually having a total of twelve and giving all he had to the remaining eleven when he thought Joseph was dead. Later, Joseph goes to a man’s house with only the desire to help, but then his wife accuses him of rape, which sends him to prison. After he comes out of prison, he reaches the palace. He did not get there without scars.

It’s what I call the scars of greatness. Yes, David- he was a great king, absolutely. But he was not flawless. We are talking about a man whose daughter was raped, whose son tried to kill him, and who sent a man out to battle only to have the man killed to cover up his sin of taking his wife. There was an assassination attempt on his life by the king he worshipped and played the harp for. Yes, he eventually became king of Judah and king of Israel, but he did not get there without the scars. He did not get there without Goliath calling him a shrimp. He didn’t get there without being ostracized and minimized because of the scars of greatness.

Abraham- yes, he is the father of faith, but he did not get there without having to pass through a land while pretending that his wife was his sister. He did not get there without being called a liar. He did not get there without having an affair with Hagar and fathering an illegitimate child outside of his marriage. That 's why the Bible says he has two sons in the beginning: Ishmael and Isaac. He is the father of faith, but he did not become the father of faith without walking through the desert, being a poor man at some point in his life, and struggling- only for God to come and bless him like the stars in the sky and the sand on the beach. Yes, he ended up great, but he started out with some scars.

And Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel, our God with us, our Father- yes, he is the greatest of all time; he is the true GOAT. But if you get the opportunity to get close to him and accept him as your Lord and Savior, one day you will find out that there was…