My testimony.
I was a teenager, in the prime of my life, partying, having a good time with my friends; drinking and doing drugs. Being 19 I thought it would be alright to go to Canada drinking and then drive back across the bridge. (I live in Port Huron , MI , on the border of Sarnia , Ontario , less than 5 minutes from the bridge.) Then, tragically, on July 26, 1998, on my way back home from Canada I was in a severe automobile accident. Like most young people I thought I was invincible and never thought about the consequences of my choices. Sadly, I had to learn the hard way, but I’m writing this now so you can learn from my mistakes. I’ve heard it said, “Learn from other peoples mistakes, we don’t live long enough to make them ourselves.”
After the accident I was in a coma for just under a month, teetering between life and death. When I woke up, I couldn’t move or even make a sound. I was literally trapped in my own body. From that point I’ve worked my way, yet not I but the grace of God with me, to be able to move all my limbs, talk and eat. I could walk down with a walker, before I suffered from a wicked blood clot in my left thigh in 2018, that destroyed the muscle. Obviously, I’ll never be like I was before.
On March 4, 2001 I learned some more devastating information. I was not alone. My friend Geoff was with me and his neck was broken upon impact and he died instantly. I do not remember a week preceding the accident, let alone the accident itself. My first feeling was shock and numbness. Then I started blaming myself and I was angry with God. I thought, “Lord, I thought I knew You and then I find out something like this.” I wrestled with God for a couple of days when God the Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse: “I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” What God was trying to tell me was this: “I (God) haven’t changed, you have.” After blaming myself a few more days I thought, “This isn’t what God wants of me” so ultimately I had to give up my grief and hard feelings to the Lord.
Now you may be asking yourself, “Why was this kept from him”. You must understand my state of mind right after the accident. I was weak and leaning toward suicide anyhow, and knowing something like this would have pushed me over the edge. My parents were advised to keep this from me, as it would do me no good to know. An example of God’s perfect timing, He waited until I was strong spiritually and wouldn’t you know it, after a 3 month break from my Christian counselor, David Goetze, I had an appointment scheduled for the next day.
Some of you may be asking, “Don’t you get depressed and stuff?” Of course I do. I just try to hold on to Words the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past.” So rather than look back and say, “I should have,” or “If only I would have”, I focus on the present and the glory God can bring Himself through me.
But the central purpose of this message is don’t drink and drive, and seek the Lord while He can be found. “For it has been appointed for man to die once and then face judgment.”(Heb 9:27)
I have a question for you. Do you know where you’ll be spending eternity when you die? If you aren’t sure, I invite you to open your heart and pray with me and begin your own journey of faith.
Lord, forgive me! It was my sin for which you were stripped and whipped for. It was my sin that thrust that crown of thorns on your head.(Can you see it?) It was my sin that drove those nails into your feet and wrists.(Can you feel it?) It was for me you were crucified. I sincerely receive the gift of grace, which you made possible by this act of obedience to the Father. I also sincerely receive the justification, which was made possible by your subsequent resurrection. Lord, come in. Save me now. In Jesus name. Amen. (Don’t just read this; meditate on it, speak it, let it become a part of you.)
And finally, can you hear Him? Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.”
Let Him in, He’ll change your life and your world! Let Jesus lead you on an unimaginable journey.
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