Sept 23 is a Remarkable Day
It was XX years ago today, when I was 15 years old, that I came to know the Lord in a personal way. And it’s quite remarkable that it even happened, because I was not at all interested in spiritual things before that day. It just so happened that my best friend was on a mission to get me to go to a Saturday night Youth for Christ rally with her, and after refusing to go with her for weeks on end, she finally bribed me. I was going to spend the night at her house, and as I walked out of my house with my little green flowered suitcase, she told me that if I was going to spend the night, I was going to have to go to Youth for Christ with her. I remember sighing and thinking I might as well get it over with.
Another remarkable thing is that during the same time, I was finding no purpose to be alive. I didn’t see the point. Why was I born? Just to live to 90 or so and die and lay in a grave forever and ever? I can just image 15 year olds today thinking the same thing, and if someone was bullying them a lot at school, it would only add to it. Anyway, I went to that Saturday night youth rally with my friend, and I heard a speaker announce with authority that we needed to accept Jesus Christ into our lives to be right with God and be assured of eternal life. Jesus was the only way, and you better come to terms with that. My heart started pounding. I knew in my depths that what he said was true, so that night I talked to a counselor who explained it more, and I prayed and asked for forgiveness of my sins and for Jesus to come into my life and be my savior. I turned away from my disbelief and turned to Christ. That’s called repentance.
Today is the anniversary of that date.
And there’s one more remarkable thing about that whole scene. I’ve only recently marveled at this aspect. I was against God before that day. In fact, I considered myself an atheist. I hated Christians. When I saw one, I ran the other direction. After that day, when I saw a Christian, I ran towards them. What caused that complete turnaround? Was it my great wisdom? No. The Bible tells me what it was, and it’s related to our new study.
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jer. 31:3)
By his lovingkindness, He drew me. He knew my poor searching heart. He looked past the fact I didn’t even believe in Him. It didn’t matter that I ran away from Christians. He loved me, and He drew me.
That’s how it will be with anyone who comes to know Jesus. He takes a step toward you. If God is drawing you, open up your heart to Him.
Jody