When he was drunk, the foolish young man preached that God didn’t exist. He’d arrogantly proclaim, “There’s no God up there! You are your own god!” he’d declare. The young man and coworkers would get high or drunk. They’d tell disgusting jokes and use filthy words. He was a sinner, but he didn’t know it.
God wasn’t even a spark in his life. He added another sin against the Creator. In his ignorance, pride, and misunderstanding about the God of heaven, he simply tried to eliminate His existence. The turning point came when he lost interest in living. He questioned, “What’s the purpose of living?” He didn’t know why he was alive! “Why am I here, in this place, at this time?” This young man was empty inside!
He searched for answers. He asked a man at work one day if he’d ever felt empty and had no purpose for living. From there he went through a series of wanderings. He needed answers.
God gave him the needed answer - JESUS!
He had earlier preached against the existence of God, but forty-seven years ago he began teaching and preaching about salvation in Jesus.
His old friends mocked him. They tried to discourage him, but he knew that truth, blessings, and life are in Jesus Christ. Coworkers who knew his previous sinful ways ridiculed and harassed him.
He often had to defend his faith and tried avoiding arguments. Those who knew him before made every effort to make his life miserable. It was painful and difficult for him as a new Christian, but he continued studying the Bible, God’s Word. He broke away from friends and avoided others. Even his family opposed him!
How have you suffered for Jesus? In Hebrewa 12:4, the writer reminds the reader, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.“ Scripture says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God!’” (Psalm 14:1).
”Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age… along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life“ (Mark10:29-30).
Jesus died on the Roman cross so that your sins can be forgiven. Erased! Jesus gave Himself to rescue you from sin!
Your family, friends, and others may not understand your new life in Christ, but having Jesus forgive your sins is worth the mocking you may experience.
Please read in your own Bible, Colossians 1:13-14. Only Jesus can rescue you from sin!
How have you suffered for