Hi You,
I don’t have anything to give you that you don’t already have and in greater abundance. My best wishes are only as good as you believe they are meant. My apologies are only as good as you will forgive me.
I have a treasure that I would give it all to you if you would accept it. It is worth more than rubies and gold, and as your brother I would die to give it to you.
What I am about to share with you is as true as you are, is more real than this life we live. I would not lie to you and I wouldn’t share this with you if there was even a shadow of doubt in my soul.
I am not a word smith, I am not going to try and confuse or prove with dogmas or forced beliefs, I speak from my heart to you my brother, what I say is as I know to be true. I am as faithful a witness as can be. I am free; I have been bought and set free. I have been offered a gift that I was hesitant to accept at first, I needed proof. What sense can this be? Am I stupid enough to believe it?
But as I attacked it, as I stripped away the hogwash and superstitions it shone brighter became more sound and could not be denied. I got nowhere so I changed tack, attacked from another avenue and the same result.
I lost sleep over it; I felt a hunger in me, restlessness, and an ambition to find the truth. I studied religion after religion and found something in common with them all. Yes every one of them, they all measured up the same no matter how outrageous they were.
My attempt to reach God was doomed to failure no matter what religion I claimed to be. I was more lost, more confused, and farther from anything I felt God to be. I was so alone, I didn’t want my life anymore; I had made such a mess of it that it meant nothing to me. I hurt so many people and the fall out would never be cleared, never forgotten and I believed never forgiven.
I was working on a building site in Dublin and met a Muslim man, his knowledge of God seemed more real than anything I had ever heard and I was embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. Who was I to say he was wrong, I never had God in my life, I never prayed, went to church, or cared of anything of God. I believed if I lead a good enough life I would get by. Getting by was my goal in life, I cared for nothing, or anyone. I was so full of bitterness, mostly for myself. I hated me so what was the point. But this man lived for God, God was in everything he did, he got down on his knees five times a day and cared not what people thought. I was intrigued. I had to know what he knew; I had emptiness in me that drew me towards something I knew not.
I had made such a mess of my life that I called to God for the first time and asked who are you? What do you want with me if anything? Can you help? My hunger for God grew like I nothing I had ever experienced before. I started reading the Koran and attending meetings and started asking questions after questions. I became frustrated when I would ask a question and I received a learned answer. This is the answer to your question go and learn it. How did I end up back here God? There is no difference between this religion and the Catholic Church. Only being told enough to be kept quiet….. It wasn’t good enough, was God real at all? Rules and regulations was this all God is? Mans attempt to reach God, no different than mans attempt to gain money, power, wealth, popularity.
I was more lost than ever, what is the point? Then I heard it, a little something not much, the end of an interview on the radio that caught my attention. A man talking about a course that is non denominational called ‘The Alpha Course’ just straight questions answered from the Bible, introducing Jesus to anyone who has questions. Who he was did he exist what the facts are surrounding him. And that was it, gone and I could forget.
Life could return to normal, Life goes on, but then, a piece of junk mail came through my door. She kept it and said you might be interested it that. Never before had she kept any junk mail, in fact I give out that everything ends up in the bin even papers before I get to read them. Not this time for some reason, an invitation to something called ‘The Alpha Course’ in the community centre on the Southern Cross road.
I learned who Jesus was not through religion but who He was as a person, how he actually existed. All the myths were stripped away and only what could be verified and proven were left behind. From Roman documents, Jewish documents and proof from various independent sources all backed up by what the Bible said.
I reached a point in my life that I had to make a decision so I got on my knees and prayed for the first time. I asked Jesus if you are the Son of God show me, if not I will carry on with the belief that you are just a prophet as Islam teaches.
I do not believe in co-incidences any more, as too many happened in such a short time. Questions I had deep in my heart that I had never shared with anyone, strangers would come up to me out of the blue and tell me that God had a word on their heart that they must share with me. Books with the title of my question would be at eye level on the first shelf I would look at walking into new book shops, the strangest most amazing stuff happened in my life that I can only wonder how?
Everything I have ever prayed for has been answered in the funniest strangest, most amazing ways.
I reached a point where I could not dismiss all of these things away with excuses, I had to take notice. I asked God if you are real show me and I will follow you.
I cannot tell you what God showed me, that’s between God and myself. But I can tell you, He is real, He does exist and he wants a personnel relationship with everyone of us. But that is between you and Him. Every bit as personnel as your marriage.
Jesus came to the earth to live a sinless life and die as a sacrifice to atone for your sins so you can have a personnel relationship with God. Mad as this sounds, it is true. Religion is a patsy, God has nothing to do with any religion. That’s not to say that people from religions don’t know God but they impose rules on them self. Your marriage does not work on rules it is a relationship, same with God. I cannot lie to you about this. I wish and pray that you know God as he would know you. In life we have a choice. Know God or choose not to. No amount of good works will work. Doesn’t count, a relationship with God works, but remember that it is your choice. If you do not choose him you choose something else and I don’t want that for me or you.
I wish you everything you have ever dreamed of and I love you. I want you to be happy that is why I share this good news with you. God frees us from bondage and rules and slavery and gives us life. What I have seen this is not the real world or the life God has planned for us. Ask Him to show you His plans for you are what have you got to loose and you may have everything to gain