Cashing In on God's Riches

Throughout the writings of the apostle Paul, we see a man who was a determined sinner who opposed the Christian faith for a season, yet became a defender of that faith. But, he was honest about his struggles with the power of indwelling sin. Ephesians chapter 4 states:
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

There is a gargantuan struggle that every believer faces - it is the conflict of old vs. new, spirit vs. flesh. We have the choice to walk in the newness of life, and the person who is born again has been given the capability to conform to God's standards. But, we have to be aware of the operation of temptation and the power of sin, that has been defeated by Jesus through His death and resurrection.  The flesh is present, the old ways are pervasive, but Christ offers us a better way.

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We have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus and redeemed through His resurrection. We have new life, but we still struggle in the flesh with the vulnerabilities of the old. Hebrews 12 offers this encouragement:
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

One of the truly enigmatic figures in the history of popular music is the man known as the Man in Black, Johnny Cash.  And, if one were to base his or her impression of the great country singer by his depiction on the screen, the story is not complete.  As a 2005 review at Crosswalk.com states:

But the story of Johnny Cash’s Christian rebirth is not the story told in “Walk the Line.” The filmmakers don’t shy away from the cultural trappings of gospel music, and of Cash’s upbringing under a godly mother, but they stop short of showing Cash’s own deep religious conversion. Carter’s role in that gospel transformation is hinted at but not made entirely clear.

This decision – to cut Cash’s story off at the point at which it likely would be most interesting to religious viewers – has serious implications for the film itself. Rather than watching a story of the power of redemption, we mostly see a film about the destructiveness of sin, and of marital unfaithfulness. In that, we learn little that we haven’t seen in numerous other films about troubled souls who find solace and peace in each other’s arms.

Pastor Greg Laurie shed some light into more of the complete story; he wrote at FoxNews.com back in 2019:

His legacy as country music’s most iconic star remains firm, but I believe Johnny Cash would want others to also focus on something else other than his entertainment achievements: his firm belief in Jesus Christ.

In my new book, “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon,” I explore this complex superstar’s journey to faith.

He writes:

Cash’s faith was tested many times in his lifetime, and it only grew stronger, not weaker. Near the end of his life, Cash was speaking openly about his “unshakeable faith.” What caused him to turn from his conflicting passions to embrace a life in Christ?

He goes on to say, "The truth of the whole man is compelling, and the story of Johnny Cash is a roadmap for every conflicted soul for whom redemption too often seems a destination far off the beaten path."

The Faithwire website reports:

His son, John Carter Cash, is keeping the flame of his dad’s faith alive by compiling a new book titled “Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth and Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash.”

The text is a compilation of Johnny Cash’s past spiritual quotes and never-before-seen proclamations, with his son explaining how important God and the Bible were to his dad.

“My father’s faith was defining of who he was,” Cash told CBN’s Faithwire. “My dad fell short in many ways through his life, but he always went back to that faith. He always carried that with him no matter what, wherever he went. Everything that he did in his life, that was a foundation.”

The article goes on to say:

In the end, Cash — who had a well-known friendship with the great evangelist Billy Graham — valued the things in life that truly matter.

“The things that he stood for are … essential aspects of love and respect for family and forgiveness,” Cash said, adding that he tries in his own life to live by his dad’s examples.

The loving son shared that his father faced struggles and hardships, particularly health problems, near the end of his life. Despite those battles, Cash always honored God.

The BillyGraham.org website notes this:

“Johnny Cash was not only a legend but was a close personal friend,” Billy Graham once said. “Johnny was a good man who also struggled with many challenges in his life. Johnny was a deeply religious man. He and June came to a number of our Crusades over a period of many years.

“Ruth and I took a number of personal vacations with them at their home in Jamaica and in other places. They both were like a brother and sister to Ruth and me. We loved them. … I look forward to seeing Johnny and June in heaven one day.”

The article relates that:

Cash once addressed his worldly struggles from the stage at a 1989 Crusade in his home state of Arkansas: “My personal life—my personal problems—has been widely publicized. There have been things said about me that made people ask, ‘Is Johnny Cash really a Christian?’ I take great comfort in the words of the Apostle Paul, who said: ‘What I will to do I do not practice, but what I hate I do. It is no longer I that do it, but the sin that dwells within me. But who will deliver me from this body of death? It is Jesus Christ, our Lord.’”

These words have come to mind: The story's not over.  There is plenty of forgiveness - an unlimited supply - for the person who comes humbly before Jesus and asks for it.  Johnny Cash is an example of someone who, despite his flaws and shortcomings, was a genuine follower of Christ.  No one is beyond the redemption that comes through Him.

Our story isn't over, either.  As long as we have breath, we can serve the Lord wholeheartedly, recognizing that the One who began that good work in us will see it through until its completion. Fortunately, our sin does not disqualify us from enjoying a relationship with our Savior.  But, it's important to make sure that we operate in a state of forgiveness by confessing our sins and receiving it.

We recognize that we are all tempted, and we can be inspired to wrestle well with the inward temptations.  We have powerful resources in Christ in order to walk in a state of victory and reject the inclinations that we have to sin.  Through the Word and consistent prayer, we can stand strong in the Lord, clothed in His armor.