I was raised in a traditional denominational church. I knew about Jesus and a few of the bible stories but had no idea you could get to really know him or the Holy Spirit. It came as a surprise to me because I thought that only happened after you died. I guess I was a religious heathen who attended church a few times a year thinking I’m not too bad a guy. I mean I was baptised as a baby with a tiny trickle of water poured over my head and taught I was in the “One True Church”. I thought there were classes of sins some little, some really bad, and as you grew older it seemed some of the bad ones turned into little ones. Yeah!
I was an assistant manager at a grocery store and during the latter part of the JESUS MOVEMENT some of the part-time help were trying to witness to me about being “Born Again” and knowing Jesus. That was something I didn’t think I needed because I was a pretty nice guy and I was in the “One True Church” the one who the apostle Peter was chosen to start. Some of those kids drove me up a wall with all that stuff. One of them would be sorting empty soda bottles into cases in our backroom bottle area and I’d hear him talking to himself or singing. I asked him who are you talking to or why are you singing back here? He told me Jesus wanted him to sing to him and I was like “Hey get some hustle on and get these bottles sorted”. The kids would give me little comic book tracts. I think most were called Chick Tracts and they had neat little stories in them. I read a few but mostly just put them in a drawer. Evidently seeing no change in me one of the kids said these things cost him a niclel or some small amout and said he was going to stop giving them to me unless I promised to read them. Those kids were really good guys and my only complaint was they sometimes took too much time getting things done because of them chit chatting about religion etc.
I was never into drugs and just a six pack of beer could last a year. My folks made me afraid of drugs and most alcohol tasted terrible to me. I’m sharing that because if I didn’t you might think what I’m going to tell you now you might consider to be an affect of them. My wife did have a relationship with Jesus and got her experience at a young age. She prayed and fasted for me but never pushed me about religion because I didn’t have time for that. I was 28 years old and busy about getting ahead in life etc. I heard about some man that owned several radio stations and how God made him rich and he had written a book about it with the title “GOD-MONEY and YOU”. Just exactlly what I needed! It was a thick paperback book and I think it was about $3.95 so I bought it. I began to read it and it basically said I wasn’t doing things the right way or acting the right way to get God’s blessing. I’d toss the book aside after a few pages of reading and pick it up a few days later and go to a differerent chapter. Different chapter same result! I did that about four times but I thought to myself since I dog earred the back cover I knew the man at the news stand wouldn’t give me a refund. I decided to read the book just to get my moneys worth out of it.
We lived in a two story townhome at the time 1976. It was a nice sunny day and if I remember correctly my wife was out shopping or at the complex swimming pool. I picked up the book determined to read it. I was upstairs in the bedroom with the sun streaming in the window laying across the bed and I opened the book to the contents or chapter page. Ah Ha! There was a chapter I hadn’t tried and it couldn’t be too bad I thought so I opened to Chapter Four-Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny. I found it to be really interesting and as I was reading about the crucifixtion and resurrection I experienced a SUDDENLY.
I found myself in the middle of a vision or however you want to describe it. SUDDENLY it was as if the bed I was laying on was the ground and I was at the scene of the crucifixtion. I saw Jesus and he was so bloodied up and torn up it was a terrible mess. Everything I’m sharing here took place in probably less than a few minutes the vision itself probably less than a few seconds. In my lifetime I’ve heard a few people say “My whole life flashed before me” or something like that after having a close call accident or some other extradinorary event. I think it is used as just an expression of speech and just a way to say I thought I was going to die. I had one of those experiences and it was definately not just an expression of speech.
I found myself laying on the ground down on the slope of the hill and I can feel the grass and the breeze. Jesus is on the cross and down to my lower left peripheral vision I saw in maybe 2 or 3 seconds what seemed like thousands of still framed photographs of me doing things that in my daily walk seemed not so bad at the time. I also saw two large beams of sparkly golden light coming down from Jesus’s eyes. You’ve probably seen a new store opening or car dealership use a big spotlight at nightime to draw attention to their location. That was what those beams of light seemed like that were reaching me. It was the most wonderful intense love I had ever felt. My chest cavity felt like it was filling up almost to the breaking point and I knew instantly Jesus was up their taking my place and still loved me. I knew he was really REAL and I gripped that paperback book strong enough to see the thumb prints. I wept like a baby well no I was actually sobbing so hard and now aware I was back in the room on the mattress. The sobbing and tears were strong enough to make the mattress kind of bounce up and down. I had broken out in a sweat you’d have thought I had just come back from the gym from working out in sweats. My life changed that very day! As I came down from the second story bedroom upon reaching the bottom of the stairs my wife was coming in the front door. I told her “You’re not going to believe what just happened!” I was sure she’d be like what happened? Somehow she must have known because as calm as she could be she just said “Oh! Yes I would.”. That was my “Born Again” experience.
Please don’t let anyone tell you that you are ok because you’ve been brought up in any kind of church. When you have a “Born Again” encounter with the Real Jesus your life will change. You may not encounter him the way I did. Most people don’t! If you come down front and repeat a sinners prayer in church out of fear preaching to avoid hell and you were drawn by fear and not drawn by the Holy Spirit and you don’t see any change in your life style or manner of speech within a few months it would be a good thing to pray alone by yourself and ask Jesus to give you an encounter with him in your heart not just your head. If you approach him that way you’ll probably see a much greater change than that simple repeat after me prayer and you’re now ok message. Do you really think with the thousands of churches on many corners that most of those people have had a real encounter or “Born Again” experience or do the majority of them just know about him and a few bible stories. Many believing like I once did. I’m a pretty good person you know nobodys perfect. I even go to church every week, I sing songs, heck I give in the offering and sometimes tithe so I must be pretty good. The thing is many believe that way and the Jesus they know is a historical person they read about much like George Washington or Martin Luther King. No real personal contact or fellowship just head knowledge! That is so sad!
Friends I want you to know without a doubt Jesus is Real – He is Alive and no matter what you have done or what you have been taught He is In Love With You. He went through that crucifixation for you personally. You don’t have to wait until you die to meet him. He doesn’t want to wait until you pass to meet you either. He is patient and forgiving and expecting to meet with you in your heart. Your heads a good start but it’s the you inside that body the you down in your heart where he wants to call home.
On May 13th,1997 below is a word the Holy Spirit spoke to me on my way to work.
“He said ” There are many cripples in My Church – crippled emotionally but the time has come — the time is now — the lame will walk you’ll see. There will be dancing, shouting, laughter as My Presence it draws near– for the time is now — that I’ve chosen to remove all doubt and fear. I’m sending light upon the earth and opening up the eyes. The light’s so strong — it removes doubts and My Voice — it calms the fears. Religious crutches won’t be needed. There will be soundness of mind. The joy will be unspeakable. It’s almost shouting time.
Gather ye the harvest — labor now — With Me — In Love. It’s time to sound the trumpet — the trumpet of My Love. Blow long and hard and clear the sound. This message from above baptizing every nation in the Waters of My Love.