Growing up I lived in a predominantly religious community, but not necessarily with most folks really KNOWING God or Jesus in a deep intimate way. After going to college and surrendering my life to Christ I began to look back at family members and high school friends and think, "Hmmm, I wonder if that person was really saved!" Come to find out, most of them were.
In these past few days I've reconnected (via the magic of cyberspace) with some old friends...and it has been an absoslute delight to find that a few of them have also found Jesus along their path of life.
It was reminding me of Elijah after he performed his huge miracle with the prophets of Baal who were slashing themselves and jumping up and down and screaming for their god to bring fire down from heaven, and Elijah pours barrels of water on the altar (in the midst of a drought, no less) and quietly prays for Jehovah to work. God brought down fire, consumed the offering on the altar, all the water and the prophets of Baal to boot! Elijah kind of freaks out and runs from Ahab and Jezebel - runs to the hills. While he's there he goes before the LORD and declares:
'Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword.
And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."'
And God responds to him that, well, actually, there are still 7000 that have not bowed their knees to Baal and are faithful to the LORD God.
Sometimes I've grown distressed over the years where family won't see their need for Jesus, bemoaning over my "lonely" state in my family and hometown of being the Lone Christian. But then God, in His gentle and even humorous way, slaps me upside the head and says, "DUH! I have my children everywhere! I am constantly drawing the lost to Myself and I have so many more than you know who have not bowed their knees to false gods."
So, it has been a week of joy and humbling to find brothers in the Lord that I didn't know I had! To find that some old friends will continue to kindle friendships into eternity is a MAJOR spiritual kick and a HUGE emotional delight!!
Comments (1)
At my 20th class reunion, it was so cool to find out that some others had also been saved....we had so much fun sharing our testimonies. And, people seemed to notice our 'closeness' or intimacy in conversation....and some asked about it, which was all i needed as a launching pad to share the gospel, and what Christ had done in my life and our marriage.