What Part of The Big Picture Are You In???

            Whether you know it, or not, you are now a part of (a member of) an eternal household - a place you will live forever. Don’t get me wrong, we are not totally in it yet, but, we have a piece of that place here on earth. Our purpose, as individual people here on earth, is to choose, willfully, what part of the big picture do I belong to. God, the creator, (there are many gods), made people to have fellowship with Him. Since Adam and Eve, as individuals, we have had a choice . . . . . Do I want fellowship with God The Father as He intended to have fellowship with me?? I look at our lives here on earth as our "growing-up time". When we die, we become an adult and live in the eternity of our matured life - a place where we choose to live forever. Sound’s deep? Actually, it’s pretty simple. You are either part of God’s household or you are not. Personally, I want to live in the house of God (Father, Jesus Christ, & Holy Spirit) forever.
                                       (Read Revelation chapter 21 and 22)

A testimony of salvation through the Lord, Jesus Christ.

My salvation through Christ is not only saving me from the perils of the eternal life without Him. That is the end result of His salvation. Christ’s salvation also saves me from the emptiness of this life here on earth that nothing or no one can fill other than Him. He places His Spirit in me. He gives me knowledge and wisdom. He gives me peace & contentment. I am saved, in this life, through His fellowship, which includes, the fellowship of His children here on earth. Praise to the Lord, Jesus Christ!!

            Since the days of Jesus’ ministry, there have been many people and organizations who have been planting His seed (Luke 8:11). The first time that I can really remember believing in Christ was when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old. I remember being in church (Catholic) and I was weeping about something. My little heart was troubled immensely by something (I don’t remember what) and I was on my knees looking up at this huge statue of Christ on the cross, praying to Him and asking, pleading as a child does to make things better. I felt His presence and His care as I did this and I trusted that He would make whatever was bothering me, OK. I find it truly amazing that I can still see myself doing this and feeling His presence with me (I feel it now!). I thank God that my parents brought me to church as a child and that I had that experience. Our God is an awesome God!!

            A lot of things happened in my life through choices. Some of these choices where made by other people, but, most of the results of my life situations where made by my own choices. Situations that occur around me, some people call them environments, I took in and internally decided what to do with them and reacted. That’s life. No one can stop time from moving on. We breath, we think, we move. God gave this to us to know Him and to know what is not Him.

            My parents divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage. I am the youngest of 4 children and I was the last one living at home at that time. It was the mid-70’s, I was 14 years old and I went to live with my mom. By this time, I was already into doing things that a lot adults didn’t do. I worked a full time job in the summer and made enough money to invest in the things I wanted to make me feel good. To me, life was to have the most fun possible. Fun, ha, partying, dealing drugs, stealing, going to bars, breaking the law. The drinking age was 18 at the time and I was almost 6 feet tall with long hair (I looked older than my age). My poor mom couldn’t control me. No way she was going to tell me what to do. She loved me and took care of me anyway. Looking back on those days, I am still so full of repentance for : what I put my mom through and all the things that I did to other people and myself; because it was what I chose to do.

            I got serious about dating when I started dating Sheri at 16 years old. We knew each other since we were very young. I had a lot of respect for her. I know God blessed me with her in my life at that time because she helped me put my mind on having a real life. She was a motivating factor that helped me get through high school and leave all the illegal business behind. God bless you, Sheri.

            In 1979, for a high school graduation present, my Dad gave me two things: a $100.00 bill and a Bible. He said that right now this $100.00 is probably more important to you than this Bible, but, I’ve been praying for you, this Bible is going to mean more to you than anything in this world. My Dad was right, of course, the Bible got chucked into the back seat of my car & the 100 bucks went into my front pocket. My Dad was right about this, too: God’s Living Word became and is more important to me than anything in this world. Thanx, again, Dad.

            Soon after graduating from a Voc. Tech. H.S., I landed a job as an electronic technician. It was like a dream come true. I was making good money & living on my own. Sheri moved in with me right after she graduated in 1980. But then times were getting really tough for the economy and I was laid-off that same year in the summer. Gold prices were up around $800.00 an ounce and prime rate was over 20%. Jobs were very hard to find. I had gotten pretty depressed about my situation and stayed in bed watching TV.

            One morning, after Leave it to Beaver, this show came on telling about all the catastrophes going on in the world. About the economy, Mt. St. Helen’s erupting, Iran Hostage Crisis, famine, & floods. When I saw that, in the state I was in, I was like, ya really, the world is going down the toilet. Then this guy named Pat Robertson came on and starting talking about Jesus Christ. He said that all these things that are happening in the world point to Jesus’ return and he started to quote Bible verses. I was unbelieving about the stuff Pat was saying until he mentioned that if you don’t believe me, look it up for yourself. I remembered the Bible my Dad gave me and turned the pages with Pat.

            At first I just turned the channel not wanting to see the truth. But, after a few days of seeing this program "The 700 Club" (right after my favorite show) and Pat showing me in the Bible the truth of Christ & the way to salvation, I wanted Christ in my life. I got down on my knees, right there, and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin, that I wanted to repent of my sin, and that I wanted Him to be the head of my life & live in my heart.

            As soon as I finished that prayer, I felt a small warm glow in the middle of my chest. I knew it was the Holy Spirit and when I acknowledge Him, that warm glow just got bigger and bigger until it was radiating throughout my whole body. I wept with thanks & praise. I also, could not sit still any more. I started looking for work & praying for help to find it not leaving any avenue closed. I had to tell Sheri what had happen and she was really happy about it.

            Days later, an old friend of mine stopped over the house whom I hadn’t seen in a couple of years & I told him about what happen. He looked at me real funny and said, "Really ?" in disbelief and I said that I wasn’t kidding. He laughed and said, "Me, too!" and we had fellowship in Christ. It was a total surprise for both of us and we agreed it was God’s doing to have us talk together about Him. He told me about an AM radio program that he listened to at lunch called "The Hour of Power" with Brother Shambock. I started listening to that show and learned a lot about prayer & the Holy Spirit.

            Not much time after, I found a job as an electronic assembler. I was thankful for it, but, I told the Lord that I didn’t want to waste my abilities as a technician and that I still wanted have that position, again. One day, at lunch time while listening to brother Shambock on the radio, he was preaching about someone out there that wasn’t satisfied with their new job and that Christ wanted to give that person the job that they wanted. So, I prayed with the brother. I knew that he might be talking about other people, but I knew that God heard my prayers, too. I earnestly, whole heartedly, with the feeling of the Holy Spirit, prayed and believed that Christ was going to provide a way for me to get that job. That same day, just as I was coming through the door at my home from work, the phone started ringing. It was a guy I had an interview with 3 to 4 weeks ago. He asked me if I remembered the interview and said that I was number 2 on his list. He had hired someone for the job and that person seemed not content there and left for lunch that day and didn’t come back. I was awe struck. I accepted the job and as soon as I got off the phone, right there in the kitchen, I fell to my knees and gave thanks and praise to Christ. There was no doubt in my mind that Jesus answered my prayer and gave me that job.

            I started that new job and continued to listen to that radio program. I had also moved to Acton to be closer to my new job. But, as time went on, I didn’t get into a church. I was not being fed the Word and didn’t gather with others in His name. Slowly, I stopped listening to that program at lunch and started playing cards with the guys, instead. I still believed that God had gotten me that job and told others about it, but my closeness with God was being severed. I had been convicted to worship and get married to the woman I loved and lived with, but I didn’t get involved with going to church. Satan was making his way back into my life. I have learned, now, that the further away from God I go in life, the further I am away from His saving Grace.

            For 9 years I bumbled and stumbled. I married that lovely girl, but, it ended in divorce. Society’s professionals had given me just about every criminal and crazy label there is including an alcoholic/drug addict. I had made a big mistake and that was not to trust God as I did when I asked Him into my heart and to be Lord of my life. I didn’t trust God as I did when I had asked Him for that job in 1980. I pretty much said thanks, but now I can do things on my own. I went to church occasionally, but there was something in the way, a spirit of doubt there, a spirit of dis-belief. I lost my job, my wife, and my house all because I didn’t just trust Jesus with my life. My attitude had gotten so bad, that after my divorce, I became homeless for almost 2 years. Many times, though, I remember being tempted with severe crimes and unjust acts that I know I would’ve done if I hadn’t loved Christ before in my life. He was there, in my decision making, to stop me from getting deeper than I could ever handle. Praise be to God.

            In 1989, I was sent to Bridgewater for observation. I forget what the court case was because there were so many times I was arrested and I was hardly ever sober. My brother came to visit me and asked me what my plans were for when I get out of there. I had no plans. I had no where to go. He asked me if I had been thinking about the Lord at all. I told him about a few times that the Lord showed His presence to me but I didn’t pay any heed. He asked me if I was ready to come back to Him. Something came over me. I thought, come back to Him? I thought of the love and care Christ had me feel in the past and that He has for me. I wept. To think of all that suffering He went through on that cross and He could’ve kicked everybody’s butt if He wanted to, but that cross was what He was supposed to do.

            With the help of my brother, Peter, I got into church and lived with some people that were members of that Baptist Church. I got baptized and I promised God never to turn my back on Him again, no matter what anybody else says or does. Although, the road hasn’t always been easy since 1989, and some of it not too pleasant at the start, it has been all up hill with many beautiful plateaus. I have my life to thank Jesus Christ for. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me my faith in You. Thank you, Jesus, for helping me get through the worst times of my life. Thank you, Jesus, for the best times of my life. Thank you, Jesus, for helping me get a college education. Thank you, Jesus, for getting me a job at the RMV. Thank you, Jesus, for my house. Thank you , Jesus, for my brothers and sisters in you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with the opportunity to serve you through the motorcycle ministry these past 8 years.

            Look in the Bible. Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 5:6-7 - Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 

Proverbs 3: 5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
All Bible quotes are from the NKJV Bible.