A Personal Realization

I have had an interesting week thinking about how each of us have traveled on our spiritual journeys. I began to realize for the first time the real difference in my experience as compared to many others. I have sometimes convinced myself that maybe I was young and very impressionable at the time. I was lonely and so I was a perfect candidate to become a bonifide Jesus freak. The Lord really opened my eyes this week about what really occurred and why it had such an impact on my life.

When I came to Jesus at that New Years Eve Party I was void of any concept of a religious life in church. I never attended church. I never went to Sunday School. I never read the Bible. As a youngster I would watch T.V. shows on the crucifixion during Easter and that's the only information that I received about the Gospel. After watching those shows I remember asking my mom and dad why the people were killing Jesus but they never gave me an answer.

I also remember in grade school praying the Lords prayer with the other kids before classes started. I was always at awe of that prayer time. That was the only time that I prayed with people. I made a big mistake in 5th grade though. I had to write a book report on any book that I wanted to read. I waited until the night before it was due and then came up with a great idea. I would do a book report on the Bible. The teacher couldn't give me a bad grade for that and so I cut up all these religious pictures and pasted them into a scrap book and then wrote a short essay and turned it in the next day. The english teacher, Mrs McElroy, called me up after class and looked me square in the eyes and asked, "David, do you mean to tell me that you read the whole Bible?" I replied, "Sure did and it took me almost two weeks". Obviously she didn't buy my story. She reluctantly gave me a c- but my conscious got a real workout on that one. I sometimes wonder if God used that foolish event to catch my attention later.

You have just read the extent of my spritual life prior to coming to the Lord. I had no other religious bias or church background. I was left all my life wondering about God but never once did I have the religious alternatives that most of the other kids experienced. When I came to Christ there wasn't a religious bone in my body. I really think that it helped me to receive all that He had for me. It doesn't sound like a safe path if you are depending on a religious system to get you through. Without the religious counterpart to rely on I reached out to God Himself and that is exactly what I got. Little old me met the great "I AM" in person.

Later on in life I tried to commit to the institutionalized church and I lost my first love for Jesus. There is no comparison. I realize now why so many church goers have a difficult time personally finding God. I attended many types of churches over the years and more often than not I would never hear the name of Jesus spoken by the folks attending. I never understood that but now I understand and it is oh so very sad.

I can speak from experience. When we are un-encumbered by religion then our chances of making a real connection with the Lord increase dramatically. I don't take pride in what happened to me. I am just so grateful. That's why I am doing all this writing. I want you to know that there is a difference and that God is into us and not religion. He proved to us that we were worth everything on the cross. Not everyone that attends church is into religion but I'm afraid that the institutionalized church is not producing disciples of Jesus. It is building its own empire.

For the sake of all those that read this, I pray that you will see Him as He really is some day and soon if you have not already. Don't worry about attendance and tithing. That is man putting his controls on your time and God's money for the sake of the institution. As well intentioned as it may seem, the institutionalized church will never be able to replace a loving and living relationship with our Father in heaven and His son Jesus Christ.