by David Stecklair
I am no longer the person I was months ago. Everything is so different
now. It has nothing to do with my coming to college. It has everything
to
do with God. I'm no longer a captive to this place; my bonds have
been
cut. Death is no longer a threatening and uncertain enemy; it is
a
departure from here to the place where He is. My life is no longer
a
guessing game, a grab bag of different paths all leading to meaningless
and obscure endings; now my life is a certain one. Hard times and
tragedies used to cut me down; now I am content with whatever I should
face, whether it is poverty, loneliness, rejection, sickness, stress,
opposition, or disappointment. I used to cower when someone cursed
my name
or wished me unwell; now I count it as blessing. I used to count
material
wealth as a gain; now I am prepared to count all my riches as loss.
Before, life was just a game to have as many good times and memories
and
success and money and friendships and comfort as possible; now life
is
clear - to share the truth of this incredible Jesus with every breathing
human. That same Jesus, the son of the God who has done immeasurable
work
in my life. He's removed me from an uncertain life with sandy foundations
and set my feet upon the rock. Every bad thing that happens to me
is, in
time, turned to good. Every test and trial is like a refining fire
-
constantly He molds and shapes me more and more into the man He has
determined me to be. He's fixed my aim from a life of worthless pursuits
to one of eternal pursuits. He's commanded me to get up from my lazy
life
of self-comfort and to go, to risk all and humbly accept the narrow
and
rocky path. He's broken through the gates that lock me down and set
me
free to sing and dance at the joy of His name. He's freed me from
the
blindness of this world - the one that tells you that health, wealth,
and
gladness is as good as it gets - and he's made me see the truth -
a truth
that sets 10,000-25,000 Chinese free everyday, despite the social
rejection and persecution they face. When He was nailed to the cross,
His
blood washed away all of the sin and wrong I carried with me from
my old
life - and removed my guilt. He took me - a black-hearted, lost,
confused,
and imprisoned young man of 18, and He clothed my heart in white,
He found
me, He made everything clear, and he took away the shackles on my
feet. He
made me see that life is bigger than just us living here on this
planet.
He made me see that it's really not about me anyway. It's about Him.
It's
about that man who hung and died on a cross some 2000 years ago.
It's
about the miracle of life He's gifted to us, and the miracle of redemption
He offers us. He is the perfectly beautiful one. He's the wings for
you to
rest on. He's the God of the universe that desired your acknowledgement
and fellowship so much that He came down among us and died a criminal's
death. He's the fountain to the thirsty. He's the one beacon in a
dark and
lost world. He is the one who will always endure, through every day,
every
year, and every age. The grass on your front lawn will wither, your
life
will end one day, and even great mountains will crumble - but He
will
last. And all He wanted was me. At the core of it, it wasn't about
following rules, or attending church services, or keeping up on Bible
reading. But it was about Him, and all He wanted me to do was take
His
hand and let Him be the Lord over my life. And so it happened. After
seeing who He was, there was no denying it. And now my vapor of a
life, my
short years here on earth, it finally makes sense. And I'll live
for Him.
I'll worship Him. I'll give everything I have for Him. I'll go as
far as
He requires, and I'll go wherever He sends. I'll keep pressing on;
I'll
take step after step, just to get closer to Him, and to show others.
And
when the curtain closes on this life of mine, like a bird from the
prison
walls, I‚ll fly way.
He's turned my life around and given it true meaning. Open your
heart to
Him and let Him do the same for you. All He wants is you. He was
nailed to
a cross because He wanted you. And if you see what I‚m saying
today, do
not harden your heart, but give your heart to Him, and run the race
alongside me. |
