Confronted by the Truth
I had everything – a successful business, a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. The one thing I didn’t have was Jesus. Of course, at the time, I didn’t really think I needed him. To me, Christianity was something you turned to if there were problems in your life you couldn’t work out for yourself. Sure, my wife and I fought once in a while – but who didn’t?
When my wife professed her faith in Jesus, I was troubled. What had happened to her? Why didn’t I feel the same? Though my heart remained hard, I spent the next three years going to church with her.
Around this time, we had a problem with one of our employees at work. She didn’t like the way I was conducting business and soon her father got involved. There was tension all around, so in an effort to resolve things, I suggested that we go to their home and talk things out. After three hours of listening to him rant, I got up to leave. Suddenly the man said, “Mr. McCulloch, are you a Christian?” I replied that I wasn’t. He asked me why. As I gave him my usual pat answer, he shook his head in disgust. Then he looked straight at me and said, “You sir, are the worst type of person.” I gaped at this. He continued, “You go to a church that preaches the gospel every week. You hear the truth, you know the truth, yet you deny the truth. The Lord knocks at the door and you have to open it and invite Him in. Confess your sinful state and ask for forgiveness. That is all.”
I quickly left. I couldn’t believe the man’s audacity, challenging me like that. I didn’t know him from Adam. After venting to my wife and using a few colourful adjectives, I drove the rest of the way home in silence.
Still, I couldn’t get the things he had said out of my mind. What did he mean to knock? Ask what? So after dropping the babysitter off, I drove to the waterfront and walked along the boardwalk. Quietly, I again asked myself the questions that had been put to me. In that moment, Jesus broke me. It was like a little light came on and I cried out to him. I asked him to come into my heart and forgive me. In his boundless mercy, he did.
That was two years ago. Looking back, I wonder why it took me so long. The freedom I have in Christ and the peace I’ve experienced has been tremendous. I truly have received a great gift from God. Though my business is no longer as successful as it was, I have learned to depend on God for everything. He has put wonderful people in my life and blessed my family. I believe I am even a better husband and father because of my relationship with God.
There really is power to change through Jesus Christ.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.
