A Special Date in My Life
John 3:3-6
"Jesus answered and said unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
April 17th is a VERY SPECIAL date for me. Why? It’s not only Resurrection Sunday (Easter), but also the date of my fifty sixth SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY! Yes! Fifty-six years ago I quit playing “avoid eye-contact” with the preacher, let go of my death grip from the back of the pew, and listened to the love of Jesus Christ drawing me to Himself. Heeding the many years of encouragement from the best friend I ever had in my young life, walked down the aisle of First Christian Church in Hobbs, New Mexico, to receive a new birth; a SPIRITUAL birth! It was a Sunday evening I will NEVER forget! The dark, hopeless, depraved, spiritually empty world I lived in became filled with light, hope, direction, and opportunities to learn about God and His ways.
Provision, dignity, peace ... JOY soon followed! I usually tell people it was the greatest decision I ever made in ignorance. I didn’t even know John 3:16 ( "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.") back in those days. John 3:16 could have been a disease for all I knew. What I knew for sure was that Jesus Christ loved me and my best friend declared “You need Jesus in your life!”
I respected, admired and trusted Jack Wisdom. After knowing him for four years I can safely share with you that I felt that he always treated me better than I deserved. Aaaand if Jesus was anything like Jack, I couldn’t go wrong. Boy, was that an understatement!
The Lord Jesus always has, and continues to love and care for me in ways far beyond my wildest imagination! Christ Jesus not only led me to Jack and his family, but also to the family of God. First Christian Church of Hobbs became my church family. Pappy Hinkle who prayed with me and baptized me that wonderful night, assigned me to teach a Junior Boy’s Sunday School class that summer. That keept me studying God’s word and sharing what I learned on a very understandable level. I grew right along with those children. Make no mistake, I made lots of immature choices and messes. No worries, my church family loved, accepted, guided and encouraged me. And they even enableme to attend Bible College where I not only got to know God better, but where I also surrendered my life for His service. So that means I am also approaching 50 years of service of my Lord Jesus, too.
May I confess to you, it hasn’t always been easy or a bed of roses? Satan has been breathing down my neck - just like I presume he has been breathing down your neck, right? The devil has touched my life with his terrible “D’s”. You know what they are, don’t you? Death, divorce, devastat ing disappointments, doubts and dashed dreams to name only a few. But through it all, God - through the power of the Holy Spirit and the precious blood of Jesus Christ, proved faithful! HE never leaves us or forsakes us! Amen! He uses people to come alongside us as “God with skin on”.
Do you know what I mean? If you are reading this celebration note overflowing from a heart of gratitude, you probably are one of the many that have blessed me with your life.
So APRIL 17th is forever a date I will declare as THE DAY I made the greatest decision of my life!
If anyone is reading this who can identify with my “avoid the message, cling to the back of the pew, ignore the wooing of love", please consider praying the verses at the top of this message along with the following:
Romans 10:8-10 King James Version (KJV). "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
You’ll NEVER REGRET it if you do!
Jesus is Lord, my Savior. I believe!
John T. Catrett, III
Scissortail Hospice Chaplain.
124 East Broadway,
PO Box 1216
Drumright, Ok. 74030
(918) 352.3080