The year was 1988, I was 28 years old. I thought at the time that I had experienced just about everything I wanted in this world. I was into hiking, riding the fastest street bikes and had a dirt bike, I had a nice car with over $5000 worth of audio equipment in it, owned a house, had a nice looking girlfriend, etc. etc. You get the picture.
Some of my friend's thought I was the happiest person, but I was miserable. I knew that pursuing more of the same type of things was not going to do it for me. I had tried everything, and now I was desperate because nothing brought any contentment or satisfaction. One night I was sitting at my dining room table talking to God (I had prayed and believed God existed since I was a little child, but I was not a Christian), I was asking God what is missing from my life, and why am I so miserable. That is when God answered me and said "I AM". Of course I thought, all of a sudden it made perfect sense to me. If there is a God who created everything, then we're not put here just to struggle along in our short lies apart from Him or knowing His will for us, of course He was what was missing. It all became so clear.
My friend Kevin Vesey taking in Mount Rainier from the throne. God was working on Kevin at the same time He was working on me. I didn't even know about it at the time.
I looked up from my chair, and there was a Bible sitting on the shelf, I had never read it, because I knew I would have to do something about it the day I did, I guess I thought I knew what was better for my life than God did! When I saw the Bible I told God that I would read it. If God wouldn't have called me, I never would have came. I was Lord of my own life, doing what I desired, not doing what God desired, making Jesus my Lord and living for Him.
I couldn't believe it when I started reading my New Testament, I had never heard it before, even in churches and from "religious" people. Much of it was just the opposite. You can't believe the world about God when it does not live by the Truth or knows it. If God is God, then what is going to be your excuse for rejecting Him? Faith is about trusting God, not about believing He exists with no proof, that's the lie from the world, you know, the blind faith thing. I know He exists from personal experience, I have seen many of the deliverances and healings written about in the New Testament and more. I could never deny who He is now. It's like if you will only drive Pontiac's. You know Chevy's and Ford's exist, but you BELIEVE IN Pontiac's! Get the point?
I did very little reading in the Old Testament at first, but Ecclesiastes was one of my favorite books. It described my life perfectly to that point in time. It was about a man who had everything his heart desired, but found that life was meaningless apart from loving God and keeping His commandments. "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity" (Ecc. 12:8) and "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecc. 12:13).
It has not been an easy road, but it is the only road to take. I hope and pray you find it too. Most people don't, but it's YOUR choice!
In Christ's love, Curtis
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mathew 7:13-14)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7b)
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. (O.T. Micah 6:8)
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Mathew 16:24-25)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelations 3:20)
Jesus is standing right at your door knocking and waiting. Are you going to be one of the many who choose the road to destruction, or one of the few who choose eternal life with Him? His words above are true and unchangeable, these are the conditions for us all. Will you do it His way? No one ever regrets coming to Him. I can't say the same about the rest.
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