The Bible says in Joshua 24:14-15 "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
A wonderful passage of scripture and great preaching material. I shall never forget the day that the Lord Jesus spoke to me and told me that the direction my life was going would end in death. He said to me, "you have a choice to make." Then in tones of the most unutterable love the Lord said, "make Me your choice. I am the only reasonable choice you have" I stood to my feet that day and turned in the direction that I sensed His presence and replied, "Lord Jesus if you will help me I will serve you from this day to the day I die." Let me say that I wasn't trying to make a deal with God that day. I was recognizing that without His help, I knew I could not live for Him.
As soon as I said those words, the Lord Jesus completely cleansed my mind and my heart of all the corrupt language and desires that had plagued me for so many years. Then He spoke one more time and said, "read My word and start in Matthew." I was overwhelmed by what had just happened. I wasn't in church. I had not yet met my wife (to whom I have been happily married to for going up on 49 years). I was temporarily living at my parent's home. I immediately went into the living room where my mother and my stepfather were and told them what had just happened. Then, in obedience to the Lord, I began reading in the Book of Matthew (I had never read the Bible previously). It was like a man dying of thirst who had found an oasis in the desert. I read the entire New Testament that week. I just couldn't get enough of the word of God. When I finished the New Testament, I started in the Old Testament in Genesis. For the first time in my life it made sense to me for now I knew Who it was about. I have been reading the Bible ever since.
That week, after reading through the Book of Acts my mother asked me if I wanted to be baptized in Jesus name. My reply was, "if it is in the Bible I want it!" She contacted a couple of preachers, one of whom said he could baptize me on Friday afternoon in Spanaway Lake. I was baptized in Jesus name and went to the Washington-British Columbia district camp-meeting that Friday evening with my brother Joe. It was there that I met my wife-to-be Shirley. I don't remember what was preached that night (the camp evangelist was Bro. A. T. Morgan) I just remember anxiously awaiting the altar call so I could go and pray. Since that day I have never found the Lord Jesus to be unfaithful. I can truly say that He has been an ever present help to me. I love that old song the chorus of which goes as follows;
I Love to tell the story
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old old story
Of Jesus and His love
I know that we live in an uncertain age. The present U.S. administration seems determined to force upon us a brand of socialism that is totally incompatible with Christianity. If you, my friend, have never truly made the Lord Jesus your choice I recommend you do so today. A life lived without Jesus Christ is certain to lead you to death whatever happens in Washington DC. Jesus loves you! The Bible says that God is not willing that you perish but He requires repentance. (See 2nd Peter 3:9) Jesus is soon coming back to take His people home. Don't put off salvation, repent and be baptized in Jesus name "for the remission of sins." God has promised to give you the gift of the Holy Ghost (See Acts 2:38). Make the Lord Jesus your choice today!
No comments:
Post a Comment