A Close Encounter of the Supernatural Kind
Hi! I know we've probably only just met for the first (and that may be last time) - but I'd like to introduce myself, and if I may tell you about a supernatural encounter that changed my life.
My Early Life
My name is Nigel and as a child, in the convention of the day, every week I was sent to Sunday School - although my parents rarely (if ever) went to church themselves.
As someone said "I was christened, confirmed & inoculated against smallpox - and only one of them worked!"
By the time I'd reached my early twenties I'd been an altar boy, a choir boy, a member of the church council and secretary of the church's Men's Society. I was thoroughly 'churched' and yet I had not met God in a real way.
The Search
During the early 70's I went to Art School, the world was post hippie and a number of my friends were 'Jesus Freaks'.
The 'Jesus Freaks' were part of the 'Jesus Movement' - a world-wide gathering of young Christians of all denominations and yet none.
What intrigued me was that they all appeared to have encountered God in a real 'life changing way' that, for all my years in church, I hadn't.
This gaping void in my life caused me to earnestly seek such an encounter with God for myself.
The Encounter
Nearly thirty years ago - my search was answered - and I encountered the Person of God in a real 'life changing way'.
I had read that there was a barrier between God and me - this barrier is called 'sin' - this was to me, at that time, a new concept but the Bible says ,"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23).
In simple terms this means that I deserve nothing from God but judgement and in fact I couldn't do anything about it even if I wanted to.
But the Bible also declares "Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom 5:16) or more explicitly "Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).
I dared to believe 'Christ died for ME!'.
I can remember it, as if yesterday ..... I was alone, I bowed my head in prayer, I asked God to forgive me for the sin in my life, I thanked the Lord Jesus for dying for me (actually 'paying for my sin'), for giving me total forgiveness and acceptance before God and I asked Him to come and rule my life (let's face it I was making a mess of it!)
At that moment I was 'lifted up out of myself' and I was enveloped by a bright cleansing fire ..... this experience went on for some time but it was (and continues to be) a life changing experience.
And Since?
It hasn't always been easy but Jesus has always been there to 'help me through'.
We have seen God answer our prayers in quite remarkable ways, providing for our needs in totally surprising (and miraculous) ways and we have known God touch us with His healing power.
But above all He is always there and even when He doesn't answer as quickly as we would like - He is there to 'see us through'.
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