This is my Crazy JESUS Story.
Maybe you can relate or be encouraged.
Bill Stevens
Maybe you can Identify with me. I used to put a lot of hope in all kinds of things to satisfy me, but it never lasted. I was hoping the next relationship, business success milestone, accomplishment, purchase, next car or newest tech, outdoor activity, hobby, drink or party would satisfy me inside my soul, but it never did. Actually, it seemed like the more I sought these the more empty I was. It left me frustrated, filled with regrets, and lots of broken relationships.
I did this for 11 solid straight years, from 14 to 25. I knew dozens of bar tenders by their first name, but I knew the bouncers better than the bar tenders!
A church was starting up with a new pastor and I went to make business contacts. Yes, I went for the totally wrong reasons, but God was bigger than my personal selfishness. I didn’t know I was going to really encounter God at church and have a life changing spiritual experience that would leave me radically different, totally satisfied, and full of joy. I didn’t realize I needed a spiritual encounter with God through Jesus. I thought religion was all I needed and ultimately realized that I didn’t need religion, I needed Jesus.
I didn’t know the spiritual work that was going on behind the scenes for me to connect with Jesus. Five men got together and banded together to pray until God spiritually opened the eyes of those who were far from Him to their deep need of Him and to spiritually revive those who had wandered from Him. They had a 4 page typed list of people who looked like they were far from Christ. I was one on the list, although I thought I had a personal relationship with God – I really did not. My life screamed something different.
I began attending a Bible study group to meet the girls there. Yes, again another wrong reason. LOL! The more I learned about Jesus, the more my heart softened to understand His love for me.
We had a special series of worship services in the Spring of 1993. I heard the pastor speak on the love of God and how you needed a turning point in your life, the Bible word is “repentance.” It means that you have turned control of your life over to God and gave Him the deed to your life so He could lead you and direct your life instead of yourself. I searched my life for this point and I could never find it. I realized that I had tried to clean it up some in a religiously acceptable way, but I was still the boss/leader of my life.
The next message I heard him speak on was about God’s love for each of us. He described how Jesus was fully God and fully man, the perfect human. His death was a sacrificial payment for my sins, my personal rebellions away from God and His ways. This was God demonstrating His love for me and each of us, but it became personal to me then. Jesus was God providing a Savior (Christ, Messiah) for us. Jesus was and is offering us salvation which means total forgiveness, eternal life, joy, peace, a new quality of life, adoption into God’s family, a personal relationship with God here and now, and heaven when we die.
He asked a question. “Have you lost the joy of your salvation?” In that moment, I realized I had no joy because I had no salvation. I called out to Jesus, saying Lord Jesus, I want you to lead my life. I believe in your death on the cross to rescue me from my sins and that you arose from the grave. Please forgive me.”
Instantly, my life was radically changed. I made that turn and let Jesus have leadership of my life and placed my faith in Him completely. Instantly, I had a real spiritual life changing experience with Him. The wrong things that had controlled my life did not have control anymore. I could feel God’s love pouring through my soul healing the broken areas of my life. Life and my life made sense in a radically new purposeful and spiritual way. I never went back to the old way of living. Why? It wasn’t because I got “religion” but I found a real peronsal relationship with the Living God who changes the heart of a person which changes their entire life for the good.
Any regrets? Absolutely NOT! If there was no Heaven and no Hell, and I had a 1,000 lives to live, I would still give every one of them to Jesus and follow Him. He is worth it!
Bottom line? God is offering everyone a place in His Kingdom here and now! You can have this new life by faith in Jesus, just like I described. He knows everything we all have done and still loves us unconditionally. He wants you to come to Him just like you are. We value knowing Christ Jesus and making Him known, because He is in the life changing business!
Watch for our next stories… Lots of “crazy” JESUS STUFF!
- Why did I choose ministry over a successful businesses.
- How did we get to NoCo?
- Why The Well?
- What we value the most?
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Pastor Bill and Stephanie Stevens lead The Well a new community church coming to east Loveland – Johnstown in the 25-34 area.
The Well
TheWellLoveland.com
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