All greatness is from God. These words kept ringing in my mind. All greatness is from God. These words came from an unlikely source. It wasn’t from a sermon I had heard. It wasn’t from a book I had read. It wasn’t even a gospel song that had these words in the lyrics.
A stand-up comedian by the name of Dave Chappelle said, “All power and glory go to God, all greatness is from God.” These words started off his ten minutes and forty-seven seconds comedy special. Dave Chappelle came to be known through a show that bore his name, ‘The Chappelle Show’. He later left the show. Great controversy surrounded his exit. He disappeared from mainstream media and appeared a decade later back doing comedy specials.
On this particular comedy special titled, Redemption Song, there was a subject that caught my attention. It was about the show he had left almost two decades earlier. When he was young and desperate he signed a contract that he did not fully understand. This was not just a mere mistake but a story of exploitation. Those who draft these contracts can smell desperation and naivety. Legal jargon is used to hide clauses that are exploitative to the person putting their signature on the dotted line. After putting his blood and sweat into the show and leaving all he had in him, all he had left was his wisdom. And his wisdom revealed that he had to quit, safeguarding his sanity and peace of mind.
Years later his show started streaming on Netflix, HBO Max, among other streaming services. What joy it must have been that his work was earning him recognition and money after all these years. Well you guessed wrong, the contract he had signed meant his work was owned by someone else, even the right to use his name was owned by someone else meaning he couldn’t use the same name to start a new show. Dave Chappelle was furious and felt like it was the same exploitation his kin had suffered during slavery. So he fought back the best way he knew how by requesting his fans not to stream the show until the company paid what he deserves and he gets the right back to his name.
“All power and glory go to God, all greatness is from God.” He said these words in a husky voice that stuck in my mind as he shared his triumph. His peers laughed at him, telling him to quit the fight because he would never win, but he did. How could he get paid after signing his right of ownership away? But he did. Why should he get back the right to use his name to start a new show yet he signed that right away? But he did. He got it all back.
Job 19:25
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate redemption through the cross and there is greatness that we experience rising from the ashes from mistakes and failures in our lives. How sad would it be to have a redemption story but not have a change in character? And when we experience change is it possible that we won’t share our triumph with others?
Acts 26:16
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.
Paul understood quite clearly what he had to do after his encounter with Jesus Christ. He had to share it with the world, especially the Gentiles. Your story might not be the same as Paul’s or Dave’s but it’s definitely the best tool to influence others and enlighten them. Paul’s reply to King Agrippa when he was put on trial and shared his encounter with Jesus Christ puts it all together quite nicely. A witness intended for good.
Acts 26:28-29
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
You might wonder why I write that we should share our stories, yet I haven’t shared mine. Well, it’s a story of a Christian who lived a lukewarm life. Experienced God’s goodness but still ignored Him until I couldn’t. During a revival week event at Parklands Baptist Church I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and He has truly changed a mess into greatness. And that’s why I not only trust God to change lives but also to change circumstances. He changed Paul’s and Eric’s life, he changed Dave Chappelle’s circumstances. All power and glory go to God, all greatness is from God.
Happy Easter!
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