Rebel with a Cause
This is the story of a changed life, as told to Power to Change Ministries
About the age of 15, something snapped inside me. Once easy-going and obedient to my parents, I became a rebel, fiercely asserting my independence. I grew my hair down to my shoulders, wore tattered jeans, and joined the many protest marches of the time. Perhaps the biggest target of my rebellion was religion. I was convinced God didn’t exist. In my view, the concept of God was just a tool people used to control the behavior of others. I lashed out scornfully at Christians and delighted in pointing out the Bible’s apparent contradictions. Looking out for Number One became my motto. Selfish and arrogant, I became successful at work but certainly not at making friends.
One evening in the early 1980s I was helping an old high-school buddy move to a new home. It was a chance to catch up on events in our lives. I told my friend how three banks had all killed my application for a new car loan. This puzzled me, because I had a great job and my credit was good. Paul, a Christian, suggested that he pray for a supernatural answer to my problem. His only condition was that if God were to answer his prayer and give me this loan without further action on my part, I would have to attend church. I consented. After all, the loan was dead. Nothing would happen, and Paul would doubt his faith. It was a great opportunity to prove that God didn’t exist. Paul prayed. We continued to talk.
Unaware to me, a remarkable series of events was taking place. A loans officer inexplicably reopened my month-old file, approved the loan, and called the car dealership. Within minutes of the prayer, the dealership tracked me down by telephone. As I spoke with the loans officer at the bank, a cold chill ran up my spine. My hand trembled so hard I could barely hold the phone. Could this possibly be just a coincidence? Or was there a God who cared about me personally? If God existed, then I was playing Russian Roulette with eternal life. I began to attend church.
I studied the many prophesies about Jesus Christ, dating back more than 1,000 years before he was born. How could men have known so much about him? Could he really have been just a well-known teacher, or was he something more? I studied his teachings, and his claims. He claimed to be the very son of God. He claimed to be the only way to eternal life. I examined the remarkable changes that his disciples went through after his death and resurrection, each one willing to die for their faith. Would they die for a lie?
In January 1983, about two years after that phone call, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Since then God has dramatically changed me. Today, I’m looking up to Number One. He has made me a thoughtful, caring person – someone who looks for opportunities to help others. He has filled me with forgiveness, love, joy, and peace. I have the freedom to enjoy life as never before. Every moment seems rich and vibrant, even in the most unpleasant circumstances. God is real, and he has made me a rebel with a cause. My greatest joy comes from serving him and sharing with others the exciting freedom of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Christian life is the greatest, most joyful adventure there is. Jesus loves you. Give him a chance to change your life.
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.