«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤
Several years ago my life was described by Thomas Aquinas when he said that within every soul there is a restless thirst for Happiness. I wanted to be Happy. Who doesn't want to be Happy? I used to hate to be Alone, and I asked myself, "Who am I?" If someone had offered me dope at that time I would have gone hog wild with it, because I was frustrated, and I sincerely sought answers to my frustrations, to my emptiness.
First I thought that the answer might be religion, so I went to church. But I never found anything that changed my life. I've always been a very practical person, and if something doesn't work, I chuck it. So I chucked "Religion". Then I decided that education must be the answer, since all of our leaders are educated. I went to a university, and talked with students about about problems, but we didn't have any solutions. And although my professors could tell me how to make a better living, they couldn't tell me how to live better. I thought the answer was prestige- so I ran for freshman class president, we stole some votes and I got elected. It was exciting knowing everyone on campus, making decisions, telling people what to do. But after a few weeks the excitement started to wear off. Students would approach me with problems and I'd say, "Look guys, I can't help you. I've got my own problems. But about that time I saw some students and a few professors who had a different dimension about them. They seemed to be riding above their circumstances- not under the pile. My "happiness" always depended on my circumstances. When things were going okay, I was okay. When things were going bad, I felt bad. If my girl loved me, I was on cloud nine; if she broke up with me, I was really down. So after awhile I asked them very simply, "What has changed your lives?" A young lady looked up at me, smiled and said two words: "JESUS CHRIST" I looked at her and said, "Honey, don't give me that garbage. I'm fed up with "Religion", and I'm fed up with the church. Don't tell me Religion." But she must have had a lot of convictions because she replied: "MISTER, I didn't tell you Religion! I didn't tell you the Church. I TOLD you the Person of JESUS CHRIST." Then I apologized to her. These students pointed out to me that Christianity was Not a religion- But a relationship. That hit me, Because I've always cherished my relationships with other people. Then you know what happened? They Challenged me to intellectually examine the Claims of JESUS as the Son of God! Boy, I thought that that was a farce. (I figured every Christian had two brains; one was lost and the other was out looking for it.)
But these people continually challenged me, so I accepted their
challenge: As a result. I found historical Facts and Evidence about Jesus Christ that I never knew esisted. I used to listen to professors in supercilious humanities classes, and if they didn't believe Christianity, you weren't going to catch me Believing it. BUT I found that I was rejecting Christ on their biases or ignorance.
In Fact I had a terrible conflict because as a pre-law student, I came to believe that God had visited this planet in the man Jesus, that He died on the cross for man's sin, that He rose from the dead and lives today. MY will couldn't accept what my mind told me. I was being intellectually dishonest.
The conflict became worse every time I saw those disgustingly happy
Christians. Ever been around happy people when you're sad? Doesn't that just tick you off? Well, it ticked me off, and pretty soon I knew I had to make a decision because I couldn't sleep anymore. I knew I had to get it off my mind or I'd go out of my mind.
I had two choices: 1> I could invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior and Lord or 2> I could reject Him.
I'M glad I had enough sense to evaluate the situation. For 19 years I
wasn't satisfied with my life, and here were some people who said they
had found the answer to life in Jesus Christ. I decided I would be a fool not to put GOD to the test. I realized that if I'd been the only person in the whole world, Jesus Christ would have died for me.
One December evening at 8:30 PM I became a Christian. I ought to know,
I was there. First, I made sure my friends weren't watching. About the only time they ever caught me on my knees was when I was adjusting the TV, but that night I got down on my knees and prayed "Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross for me." I told God that I knew I was a sinner, and boy, that word used to bend me out of shape. I used to think sin was just lying, killing, immorality, etc. But sin is basically an attitude of indifference toward God. So I asked Him to forgive me.
I prayed " Jesus, I invite You to come into my life as Savior and Lord. I exchange my will for Your will" Finally by faith I thanked Him for coming into my heart.
Nothing happened. No bolt of lightening came out of the sky. I didn't
sprout wings, and I didn't dash out to buy a harp. But in six months to a year, my Entire life was revolutionized. I started seeing changes in about six to eight days. I had a lot of restlessness in my mind, and I always had to be somewhere or be with someone. I just couldn't be alone with my thoughts. My mind seemed like a maze. But when I made that decision for Christ, there was Peace - restfulness - in my mind. Not that I had no conflicts. But I had the ability to cope with conflicts - I had Peace. It's hard to describe; you
simply have to try it for yourself.
I used to have a bad temper, and I was constantly in and out of troulbe. But after I became a Christian, I would be at the point of losing my temper, when suddenly I would have tranquility, and my friends noticed it. But my enemies noticed it a lot sooner!
Also I had a lot of hatred. It wasn't something always outwardly
manifested; but rather an inner grinding. I despised the Black man, the Yellow man, the Red man, the White man. Why? Because anyone who was different from me was a threat to me; I was insecure. But the one man epitomised everything I hated- My father. To me he was the town drunk. My high school friends would make jokes about him making a fool of himself around town. I laughed, but I was crying on the inside. Sometimes when we had company I would tie Dad up in the barn and tell them he had to go on an important call. I even tried to poison him several times by putting posion in his whiskey bottles. But when I became a Christian, God's love somehow took that hatred and turned it right around to love- love so strong that I was able to look my father straight in the eye and say "Dad, I Love You." That really shook him. Six months later I was in a serious car accident. When my father came into my room, he said "Son, how can you love a father such as I?" I said, " Dad, six months ago I didn't have the capacity to do it. But through Jesus Christ I can Love you and other people as well."
I explained to him how Christ had changed me from the inside out; and 45 minutes later he got on his knees and commited his life to Jesus Christ. When he lookrd up, he was literally a changed man. It was just like somebody had reached down and turned on a light bulb. He only touched whiskey once after that.
Thirteen months later, he died. But in those few months scores of people in my hometown and all the sorrounding area committed their lives to Christ because of my father's changed life.
This is why I believe that Jesus Christ is the Greatest revolutionary who has ever lived. This is why I believe that the greatest investment I can make with my life is to share my faith with as many men and women as I can.
I used to be constantly on the Go because of restlessness, Now I'm on the Go for another reason Peacefulness. I've Got A Satisfied Mind.
"Would You like to Know God Personally?"
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤
Taken from "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" historical evidences for
Christian Faith. by Josh McDowell
Traveling Representative for Campus Crusade for Christ International
(copyright 1972 Campus Crusade for Christ International, Arrowhead
Springs, San Bernardino, CA 92414)
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤
Have You heard of "The four Spiritual Laws?" click links Below
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤
Send E-Mail to: DuaneR@go.to