From the Pulpit: A life-changing very
Having a willing heart has more to do with opportunity than anything else. At least that’s proven to be the case for me. I was a below average student in high school. I earned an associate’s degree and a Radio/TV Broadcasting degree from a community college and technical school. Those are two diplomas no employer has EVER asked to see, by the way. And yet, here I am writing an article about the importance of living a life of faith.
As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is proven. He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31 and Psalm 18:30 (NKJV).
This is the verse that stopped me in my worldly tracks. I was almost 40 years old and had lived a comfy life keeping Jesus at a comfy distance. Baptized, confirmed, and sent into the real world at age 18 with an awareness of a Creator, a Son, and a Spirit that I didn’t completely understand was enough for me.
I could recite The Lord’s Prayer – if there were other voices reciting it along with me – just like I had done attending church with my dad since I was little. I knew I wasn’t supposed to swear in church. I knew I was supposed to do good things for others. If I did the opposite, I would convince myself that my good deeds outweighed my “not as good” deeds.
Good to go! While I didn’t completely understand God’s grace, I figured I would be included in His heavenly kingdom if I was suddenly snatched away without notice. I could recite the Apostles’ Creed as well (as long as other voices joined me). I could do church.
Then I aged. I married LeAnn, whose family prayed before meals, volunteered at church, and had a Bible on the hutch in the dining room that looked like it was either really old or that someone actually read it – often. Then LeAnn was going to have a baby. I was going to be a 34-year-old father.
Church attendance became the norm… though I still kept Jesus at a safe distance. But I wanted more for my daughter, Tess, so I put an artsy sign above her crib that said, “Jesus loves me.” Jesus will like that, I thought!
Time travels on and I become a father for the second time. Now I’m precariously close to being 40 years old. When Ellie arrived, I had this great idea to go into business for myself. I’ll produce videos for businesses and families. It’ll be great! One of the jobs I accepted was to operate a camera for the LifeLight Festival. No major impression was made, but I thought, “What if they hire me again next year?” Maybe I should listen to some Christian music so I have an idea of what this “praise” business is all about. I did just that and discovered the teaching of David Jeremiah. He was doing a study on King David. He was sharing things about this sling-swinging, shepherd boy that I had no idea about. Why didn’t I know these details? I went to Sunday School and “graduated” when I was confirmed. Why is this all new to me?
I couldn’t stop listening. Day after day I would tune in and find out more about this Hebrew warrior, king, and man of God. So, I bought a Bible and started following along with the study. 2 Samuel is when I ran into the verse that I couldn’t shake. I questioned what I was reading, “His way is perfect?” “The word of the Lord is proven?” “He is a shield to all who trust in Him?” More thinking, “If this is true, I gotta pay more attention to what He’s telling me.”
Cut to the chase, Jim! OK. Here I am 18 years after turning 40. I’ve read my Bible a few times, I’ve preached as a lay leader about 50 times, and I’ve concluded that I’m not all that… but He is. His Son is. And I am guided by His Holy Spirit in ways I never thought possible. If you’re not in His Word, dip your toe in the Holy Water of His Word and see what He’ll do. He might surprise you in an eternal way. His Way! Amen.
