Forgotten Promises Resurrected, Luke 15:7

Luke 15:7

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent”

Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Matthew 18:12-14

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Helicopter Crash and the Bible

I'd like to relate reading the Bible to a helicopter crash. And believe me, I can already hear your thoughts, “What I’m the world does a helicopter crash have anything to do with Bible”?  And you’re right, there isn’t to much in common between the two except…You can be told what it’s like to be an a helicopter crash but you really won’t know what it’s really like until you experience for yourself.  Just like reading the Bible, you can read it and have thoughts and opinions what is all about but when you experience the Bible in person what it tells you it takes on a whole new meaning.  So, you see, a helicopter crash and the Bible can be connected.  

The Beginning of Understanding

All kidding aside, when I realized that my life emulated the Bible in so many ways that’s when the Bible started to speak to me instead of me just reading it.  It’s took me over 50 years to establish the relationship with God that I have now.  That seams like a long time, but I’ll be the first to admit, that it takes me a long time in some cases to connect the dots, no matter how close they are or how obvious it is.   Want a second opinion, ask my wife, she’ll back me up on this for sure. 😊🙏

God's Plan

I’ve read in the Bible many times how the angels rejoice with each lost soul that repents and accepts Jesus as their savior.  I’d definitely get that multiple choice question right on a test every time.  But, for the longest time it was just head knowledge.  Some people call it book knowledge, I didn’t have any personal experience to actually engulf me with the true reality what takes place and the eternal consequences that happen when someone finally submits to Jesus. as their savior  It’s simply earth shattering to say the least.  Let me try to explain.  Many of you know I suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke October 6, 2019 and to say the least, it changed my life.  One second I was a business owner, I was a triathlete, I loved to trail run and hike, you name it I probably did it and had all the toys to play with and use.  The next second I was paralyzed right of center, I couldn’t talk and I suffered from severe aphasia.  Talk about a knockout punch.  Well, that’s what Satan had in mind, God had another idea in mind.  Before the ambulance arrived God told me three things and one of the things He told me was, “There are going to be a lot of people come to me because of your testimony and the things you go through “.  Having a stroke is not for the faint of heart and I would never wish it on anybody.  But I know my stroke is being used to glorify God.  It has opened so many doors for me to share how wonderful our savior is that as hard as it is, it’s worth it.  

The Power of Salvation

I’ve had the opportunity to see people accept Jesus as their personal savior.  I’ve watch them go from dark to light right before my eyes and the change is immediate.  The experience witnessing that is so powerful that I’ve told my wife, like I’m going to tell you now, that I would give up every hike, every triathlon, every trail run, etc that I ever done to see one person accept Jesus as their savior.  It’s that powerful!  Physically, dealing with the stoke is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  That includes 21 years in the military, and 1/2 Ironman triathlons. I'm here to tell you that they have nothing on a stroke.  Mentally, I’d be remorse if I didn’t admit that it was/is really hard being at the top of your game, in great physical condition, the leader of the pack to not even being part of the pack and paralyzed on the right side of my body.  It’s like being force fed a huge piece of humble pie over and over.  But spiritually, I didn’t realize I could have a relationship with God that I have now.  It’s absolutely amazing and I’d never go back to before my stroke to the relationship I thought I had, which was barely a relationship at all.  Now, I know in my heart what it means to be close to God, now I now itn my heart the power of transformation when a person accepts Jesus as their savior.  Now I know in my heart that the reason I’m here is to glorify God.  And I want that for each of you reading this article as well.  And I pray that it doesn’t take something like a stroke for you to have that type of relationship with God.  

May you always walk in the Truth!