“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:7 (NIV)
A great aunt once gave me my first bible when I was thirteen. It had a white leather cover with a gold zipper, gold letters on the front, and all the words of Jesus were printed in red. I thanked her for it and then put it on a bookshelf in my bedroom, where it remained unopened for six years.
During my teen years, I was pursuing my own path and left no room at all for God in my life. From the age of fifteen to nineteen, my mind was obsessed with the occult, which included astrology, card reading, palm reading and any other form of fortune telling. For a brief time, I even dabbled in witchcraft and spell casting, but God sent me a wake up call one night, through a dream.
I dreamed I was running to catch a train. Once I finally got to the train, I jumped on board, but discovered I was on a train of coffins, traveling through a cemetery. I woke up with my heart racing, but had a new respect and curiosity for God and His truth. I remember wondering, if there is a God, what does He expect of me?
The following year I had a life altering experience which changed the trajectory of my life’s purpose. While I was still obsessed with the occult, a friend mentioned a best seller book about bible prophesy and the events foretold that lead to the end of the world.
Being fascinated with any topic on prophesy, I took a city bus to an occult book store in Chicago. When I asked for the book, the clerk looked sternly at me and said, “You don’t want that book-it’s about the bible.”
I passively accepted his opinion as if I had no mind of my own and headed back home.
I caught a bus to the intersection where I needed to switch buses in order to get home. While I was waiting to transfer buses, I was standing in front of a small store that sold newspapers, candy, magazines, and cigarettes.
I’ll never forget the moment I looked in the window of that little store on Western avenue, in Chicago, and saw that book in the front window.
I went inside, bought the book, got on my bus, went home and read the entire book in my living room that afternoon. It wasn’t the prophesies or the knowledge gained that began to transform my life that day, it was someone.
At the end of the book, the author had an invitation to pray a certain prayer, asking Jesus to forgive my sins and invite Him into my life. I was raised in the Christian faith, but it was the first time I ever thought of Jesus as dying for me, personally.
After I bowed my head and prayed that simple prayer, a powerful sense of God’s love flowed over me. I felt a physical sensation of warm oil pouring over my head, which I now realize was the Holy Spirit. God’s forgiveness, love and peace swept over my whole being. Jesus came into my life and a transformation began that day.
I looked for that dusty, untouched, white leather bible which still sat on my bookcase. I opened it and read the words of Jesus, printed in red letters. It was like reading a personal love letter from God. I lost all interest in the occult and never looked back again.
That day was mysteriously guided by angels under the direction of the Holy Spirit, from the bus ride to looking in the window of that little store, to reading the entire book, uninterrupted. Angels and the Holy Spirit also guided someone to place that book in the store window that day. I was led to look in the window and in God’s perfect timing, nothing was a coincidence.
I discovered the joy of knowing Jesus, instead of knowing about Him. Through all the ups and downs of life, the blessings and the losses, in good times and bad times, Jesus has been and still is, a rock of my stability. He is my Savior, my Lord and my best Friend.
Lord, thank you for all the ways you pursue us throughout our lives, by your Spirit, your angels, the power of scripture, and your steadfast love and mercy. Amen
