How I Came To Christ & My Continued Walk With Him
My new life started New Year's Eve 1979. I was at a friend's house getting high ( yes, getting "high" on alcohol and marijuana ) and watching the New York City, Times Square Ball drop, on television in her living room with a bunch of other young ladies.
I don't recall what time it happened, but during the course of said night, a voice spoke to me and told me "Next year, you will not be here". I know you may not believe it, but I know now that was the voice of God. How did I know that? I was stoned, and right after I heard those words, I became STONE COLD SOBER!. No matter how much I smoked or drank afterwards, I could not get high again! The only thing I could do then was excuse myself and go home early, because I really didn't know what happened!
On Easter Day, I was in yet another friend's living room watching an evangelical broadcast. I was drawn to this particular program because I had just read the book "There's A New World Coming" by Harrold Lindsey. It was based on Revelations, and it had scared the stewbeans out of me!
Now, here was the author on television telling everyone about his book, about how Revelations was going to come to past, and how to take refuge in Christ. Right there I received Christ right in my friend's living room! So, Easter Day 1980 became my spiritual birthday. New Year's Eve 1981 was spent in church with fellow believers!
I have walked with the Lord ever since. Sometimes it was a fervent walk and sometimes I walked away, rather tried to walk away. Those times when I thought I had gotten away, He sought me and brought me right back.
The bible says What so ever God does, He does forever. I was just kidding myself, thinking I was going to get away. God is like the Royal Canadian Mounties, He always gets His man, or woman. So great is His love for me and us. He is not willing that any should perish. That means you reading this.
It has not, repeat it has not been all sweetness and light. There has and will be devastating trials and tribulations. There has been (and will be) loss, pain and suffering. I still sin (and will continue to, while I live on this Earth) and encounter (and will continue to, encounter while I continue to live on this Earth) those who also sin.
But through it all, God, The Creator of The Universe, has been with me! He says in His Word I will never leave you nor forsake you . And I am a friend that sticks closer than a brother and I believe it, because He had proven this to me numerous times.
When I received Jesus Christ as my Savior, to paraphrase the words of Hillary Clinton, "light did not shine down from heaven and a celestial choir did not sing." Lighning did not flash, thunder did not roll, and the Earth did not shake. I had simply changed sides. I was formally dead to God, living in sin and in the Kingdom of Darkness. Upon me receiving Christ, I was now alive to God, given a new life, and had joined the Kingdom of Light!
How did I do this? It was already done through the provision of the cross! Christ did all of the work by dying on the cross in my stead. You see the Bible states that "The wages of sin is death", and "All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.. There was nothing on this Earth that I could've done to satisfy God.
There aren't enough old ladies to assist across the street. There are not enough charities to give to, or volunteer for. Save the Whales, save the Bald Eagle, the Spotted Owl, Fight Homelessness, Fight Hunger, Fight Crime, Teenage Pregenacy, etc.
All of these magnanimous deeds, are worthless to merit favor with God, or earn a place in heaven. To God human mortality / rightousness is filthy rags. Man would have to be perfect in order to satisfy Him, and man cannot be perfect because he was born in sin and shaped iniquity!
That means because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, sin entered mankind through the genes and chromasones. So that every man born there after was born in sin. Sin created a great gulf between man and God. Where man used to commune with God, he was now separated from God.
But, God is created a provision through His Son Jesus Christ. By sending Him down to be born of a woman, live on the Earth for approximately 33 years, and dwell among the very human beings who put Him to death on the cross.
Jesus Christ came to be the substitute. He would die for the sins of the world. He would take sin on His own sinless body, in order that those who freely accept what He has done and be freed forever from the penalty of death, and eternal separation from God. To be Born Again !
Man now has a means of being placed back in his proper order. A right relationship with God! In the beginning of Genesis, it talks about how Adam would meet God in the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden.
Can you imagine what that was like? Meeting God? Walking and talking with Him face to face? I know what that's like now because I have a personal relationship with God! I can walk with Him and talk with Him just like Adam! Just like God intended me to do! Now, you can have the very same thing!
You see, God made man to believe, to worship and to have a relationship with Him. Not to flounder about in confusion, pain and suffering, with no hope, then to die and go into eternal damnation.
That fate was never meant for man. The bible says God is not willing that any should perish. That means you, yes you! The mere fact that you are reading this proves God's tremendous love for you. He is telling you that He has a better life for you. All you have to do is accept what Christ has done in your stead.
When I came to Christ I was no means a goody-two shoes. I had problems and many problem areas, and still do. Neither was I down and out and in the depths of the abyss. God doesn't care what state you are in. There is no such thing as a sin (or sins ) too bad for God. God is not a respecter of persons, so the moral, good, and law abiding person can come too. As the song says: "There's room at the cross for one more . . . . .".
You see, according to God, sin is sin. Whether they are small sins or big sins. Sin is sin. And all sin is separation from God, and all men have sinned and fallen short of the glroy of God! The only way back to Him is through His Son, Jesus Christ. That's it.
I can't show you what I believe, nor can I make you believe. God has given you your own personal right to choose. This is called: your sovereignty. It is your right to choose to say no, or to say yes. God can't make you change your mind in that area. You wouldn't be a human being if you were forced to believe in Him. You would be a robot. God wants you to love Him freely and willingly.
I can only share what I believe, and pray that these few words that I've shared will stir your heart to ask Jesus to become your Savior.
You can do so by saying this short prayer:
Lord I know, I am a sinner. I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I accept what He has done on the cross for me, in my stead. Amen.
If you have said this sincerely from the heart, you now are a member of the Kingdom of Light! You are a Christian! Welcome to the family!
One of your first responsiblities is to find a bible believing ministry (church) to attend on a regular basis. Why? Because you need the covering, encouragement and prayers of other believers. You also need to be taught, to learn about salvation and what's next in this new Christian life.
A helpful website to check out is: http://www.ggwo.org
It's listed as Greater Grace World Outreach which is based in Baltimore Maryland, but has ministries all over the world. Perhaps they will be able to recommend a church home close to your home or home town. They also webcast sermons and services, and you can download podcasts ( for a nominal membership fee ), and contact someone, if you need prayer, or wish to talk.
May God Bless & Keep You !
Note: This piece was originally written and posted on another site 03/10/2008
