[This was written over a week’s time, due to my health. If because of that it is somewhat confusing, please forgive. If it is posted in the wrong place, please correct. I just feel I must tell others.]
1 Timothy 1:14 & 16
“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
I never cease to be amazed by the longsuffering, mercy, and love of our Father. I stand ashamed of the fact that I once turned my back upon my sweet Savior Jesus and walked away from Him because of threats made against my family. I never like to hear people ‘boast’ of how wicked they were before accepting Christ. Most of the time, it appears they are bragging about how evil they were, as if it is some kind of merit to salvation. I am ashamed of what I was and what I did. But as I think of the forgiveness given me by Jesus, I am overcome by love to Him. I just can not comprehend such mercy and love towards me! He has blessed me more than I could ever deserve. In my life, I have seen true miracles take place within my sight. Through the past few weeks, much has taken place and I want to tell others of it.
My best friend (a police officer) had surgery for a knee replacement. Shortly before this, I had the joy of seeing him give his heart to Christ. He, like I, has faced death many times as others attempted to kill us. An infection set in after his surgery. The doctors operated again and had to remove the knee replacement. As the infection continued to spread, he was told that if he lived, he would lose his leg. Together we have faced much and, as his body began to shut down and die, he wanted me with him. We prayed together for God’s will to be done. We laughed and cried together and praised God that He forgave us and gave us both time to come to Him for forgiveness. As I left the hospital that night, we neither expected to see the other in this life again. O glorious and loving God! My friend was healed, did not lose a leg and has a new knee! What a wonderful Lord we have! Thank you Jesus!
My wife, who was also once a Christian, has been quietly opposed to my returning to Christ and the Church. She has a desire to come back, but fears what is required if she is to be totally Christ’s. She was in what could have been a deadly vehicle accident. Another officer friend saw it take place on the freeway as it was raining. She was stopped in heavy traffic and a large delivery truck approached her from the rear at a high rate of speed. The truck hit and knocked her into another vehicle that was about 30 feet in front of her. The delivery truck was traveling so fast that, as my wife’s vehicle came to a stop, it rammed into her again. The delivery truck was heavily damaged, as was the truck my wife was pushed into. My wife’s truck was ‘totaled’ by the impact with its rear and front buckled and the steering wheel bent from the force of my wife striking it. The officer told me he expected to find her dead or dying. But praise our merciful God! She survived with only bruises and some pain. No serious injuries! Last week, she attended church with me for the first time. Thank you Jesus!
My 24-year-old son recently came to me. We have been talking about Christ, His love and the forgiveness He has to offer for some time. We talked again and I prayed for him. Two days later, he came to me with tears pouring down his face and unable to speak. I did not know what was wrong and fear something was wrong, helped him to sit and waited for him to calm down enough to talk. O dear loving merciful God! My son began talking and, sobbing told me he had just given his heart to Christ. He said he could now understand a little what I have been telling him about the love Christ has for us and the love that flows into our hearts from Him. Thank you Jesus!
My son-in-law (another cop) recently drove onto a scene where he saw a SUV run-down another officer. He knew the vehicle was stolen by two triple murders and saw two men in it. It turned around to run over him also and he fired at the driver. As it swerved away, the other man began firing a shotgun out the window at my son-in-law. He returned fire, the vehicle crashed through the wall of a business and the murders jumped out. After many shots being exchanged, the wounded killers were arrested. Praise our Holy God! My son-in-law did not receive any injuries. He and I are now discussing Christ and His love for us. Thank you Jesus.
My health is not very good and I had to retire because of it. I’ve had many doctors tell that I am not suppose to be alive, that they know of no one who has lived through what I have. I was supposed to go into the hospital this week for several days of observation before surgery. My primary doctor cancelled it because my health is too poor to go through with it. But I thank my LORD for it all. What love He has for me! He has brought this all upon me because of His wonderful love and desire for me to give myself totally and completely to Him. “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” (Psalm 119:75).
From this sickness, which is a result of my past way of living, He has given me the opportunity to return to Him. Would I choose to remain as I was, in health without Him, or ill and with Him…there is no choice to make! With my whole heart I thank Him for what has come upon me. I am so very thankful for what He has brought upon me. I have grown closer every day to my LORD. I have never known such love could even exist and it grows and grows more so each day. Whether I live or die, it is His will and I trust Him completely. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:71). O thank you Jesus!
The enjoyment, the love of God is the only happiness with which our souls can truly be satisfied. To go to heaven, to be with He who I long to see, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the greatest pleasures here on earth. Christ rightly known is most surely Christ rightly beloved. No sooner did I discern what He truly is, behold His glories, and partake of His bounties, than my heart was at once moved with love towards Him. He spoke pardon to my guilty soul and I could not long delay to speak words of love to His most adorable person. It is utterly impossible for a man to know himself to be complete in Christ, and to be lacking in love towards Christ Jesus. Love is most surely in his bosom. Has your breast never heaved with love to Jesus, are you yet a stranger to the blood of sprinkling? He that loves not has not seen Christ, neither known him I love Him!O, how I love Him! “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-22)
God Bless…
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The reason why God's people are not more spiritual minded, and have no more faith, I have been shown, is because they are narrowed up with selfishness. . . . It is not the abundance of your meetings that God accepts. It is not the numerous prayers, but the right-doing, doing the right thing, and at the right time.--Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 36
