BUT GOD

Lutho

Imagine being caught and arrested with an illegal substance, and a few days later showing up in court, only to discover your case was never filed and there was no record of it. Instead of facing judgment, you were released and set free to return to your normal everyday routine.

But what if your "normal" appears on the outside to be everything but normal? What if your "normal" is a path to potential destruction?

Lutho came from a line of family members who walked such a path. His father was a gangster who was shot and killed when Lutho was only six years old. His uncle served as a hit man who'd spent time in prison, and could no longer sleep peacefully at night because of the murders he'd committed.

Lutho loved his late father, and wanted to be just like him and make money the way he did. He thought robbing banks like his dad was the only hope he had to escape his situation in Eastern Cape.

Despite warnings and pleadings from his uncle to not follow the same path as him and his dad, Lutho was headed down the same road. BUT GOD...

A path of hills and valleys

While Lutho had always attended church throughout his childhood and teen years, at 16 he started hanging out with the wrong crowd, began smoking pot, and later started doing crystal meth.

One day right after a teen fellowship church event, he and some friends decided to go buy some pot. It was then he was caught, arrested, and thrown into jail.

Lutho thought for sure he was headed for prison, until the case went unreported and he was miraculously set free. He took this opportunity to stop using drugs and try to make a better life for himself.

He finished school, got a job selling insurance where his mother worked, and completed his tribal rite of passage into manhood.

Despite all this, Lutho turned back to drugs. BUT GOD...

BUT GOD...Jesus's saving grace

Lutho realized he was either going to end up in jail again or end up dead because of drugs. However, God opened up a new path leading him to Cape Town. Here, God introduced Lutho to the Living Hope ministry.

Lutho began volunteering with the ministry and enjoyed it immensely, especially working with the older volunteers. They reminded him of better times with his own family. He was asked to come back and volunteer regularly.

God used this opportunity to introduce Lutho to Alan and Michelle of Oikos. When Lutho saw how Alan and Michelle were helping others, including people like him, he knew this was the kind of life he wanted. He asked Alan to pray for him.

Even though Lutho had grown up in church, he admits he never had a relationship with Christ until Alan shared the Gospel with him, prayed for him, and baptized him.

Jesus's saving grace set Lutho on a new path. He decided to go to discipleship training school and later to digital film school. Through God's great provision and the help of Alan and Michelle, Lutho received funds to attend DTS.

A detour on the path

Although Lutho was now on the path to a brighter future, it wasn't without a major detour. Lutho was lured back into drugs again when he made a trip home. BUT GOD used the Holy Spirit this time to convict him.

Lutho describes the experience as wanting to hide the shame of his setback from Alan and Michelle. BUT GOD exposed him through various trials, including nearly being killed by the mob.

He wanted to stop his drug use, but this time realized he couldn't do it in his own power. He needed Jesus and the people God had put into his life to help him.

Lutho trusted Jesus with whatever happened next for him.

BUT GOD...His hope

When Alan heard what had happened to Lutho, they came and got him. They enrolled him in a recovery program, which he is currently in his fifth week at the time of this writing. He’s also attending Celebrate Recovery weekly at a local church.

When I asked Lutho what is the one thing Oikos has taught him, he couldn't name just one. But at the top of his list is the importance of relationships, especially with people from different races.

He explained to me how rare of a thing it is in South Africa, to find a group of people from various races sitting down at the same table to talk about Jesus. It's nearly impossible, BUT with GOD, Oikos is doing the impossible and changing lives.

Lutho also credits Oikos for mentoring him in good stewardship of his money. Oikos has taught him to track his spending and save money he previously would've spent on drugs.

He's also learning how to start his own NGO, and has dreams of using his digital film skills to be a voice for others and help share their testimonies. In addition, he feels the Lord calling him to prison ministry, to help those there who are broken in spirit come out rehabilitated and renewed by God's love.

Lutho realizes he could've ended up like his father or his uncle, BUT GOD has shown how He can provide from all corners of the earth for those in need of His help and Jesus's saving grace.

BUT GOD...His love

The grace Lutho experienced the day he was released from his drug possession charge was just a glimmer of what Jesus has done on the cross for all those who put their faith in Him.

Jesus took our place in judgment. Not only was He charged with our sins, He paid the penalty for them in full so we wouldn't have to. He died a horrendous death so we could be released to spend eternity with Him when we repent of our sins and trust in Him.

This is all because His Father loves us that much. If it weren't for this, we'd all end up on a path to eternal destruction.

BUT GOD...so loved the world!