The events of this past month and some odd weeks have been an intense experience, as at the beginning of it all I felt the awesome power of God’s love come over me and the Holy Spirit filled me. I prayed with all my heart, for the first time in my life, asking the Lord for forgiveness, putting my trust in him, and accepting Christ into my heart. It was difficult casting aside the hate I’d carried over my shoulders for so long, thinking somehow I had a right to these feelings after the injustices I felt I’d faced at the hands of a coach, women, a father figure, and a number of others. But it was killing my spirit, and there was no love in me. I did not know God. I turned away from him, and it was the greatest darkness of my life.
It is good that I now walk in the light. I learned that Christ is the only way to the light, and any other way is a lie. Let it be known that there is only one God who will justify us all by the same faith. Anyone who does not come in the name of Jesus or denies that he is the Christ is a liar. Jesus is the Son, and without the Son we cannot have the Father, but if we have the Son we have the Father also.
In this journey toward the knowledge of the truth, I have lost a few friends because I spoke the truth boldly and it was not appreciated. One of those friends may or may not still be a friend, but the attitude points toward no. This has saddened me, but it has not discouraged me. Jesus did tell us that there would be people who would hate us for spreading his truth, and he was without honor in his own hometown of Nazareth where he fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah before a synagogue. But even though a few of my friends have hated me because of Christ, I do not hate them, but I love them, and I love all my brothers despite their wickedness. We must love one another, and be devoted to each other in brotherly love, or else we cannot claim to know God.
I have been troubled lately by the words of a friend of mine, a lovely redheaded lass from Manchester. She told me that a friend of hers had passed away, and she felt that it was not fair that someone so innocent should die. No, it doesn’t seem fair. But we must realize that we are human, and God is divine. God is infinite, and he knows all. He sees the big picture, and we do not. What seems like a meaningless death to us may in fact have profound effects that reach out and bring people closer to Christ. Will we only accept the good things that come from God yet none of what we perceive to be bad? We had this vision of perfection once, before Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now we cannot know only good, and many of us want to, but we must know evil as well. We should rejoice in our suffering, for it creates perseverance and character that will strengthen our devotion to Christ. God has poured out his love into us by the Holy Spirit. Let us be happy, and know that no matter what trouble may come to us, the Lord will protect us and comfort us. Remember that God is just and he will give relief to those who are troubled. Pray for those who are in pain, and pray for yourself earnestly and seek the Lord if you are in pain. Do not let your pain and your dependence on things other than the Lord rule you and make idolaters out of you.
Scripture referenced:
Romans 3:30
1 John 2:22,23
Luke 4:14-28
1 John 4:7,8
Romans 5:3-5
Romans 12:9-21
Job 2:10
Tags: Reverend Cornelius Spunkwater Christianity Faith Jesus Christ God
