Will never forget the day after a meeting when my paster noticed me with my Bible in hand, and he asked if I read it.
Duh! thought it was only to be opened in church to follow along, like a song book. Was so shocked by his question, I didn’t think we could read or understand what was written in it. So he advised me to give it a try, Hmmm!
Maybe it was time for me to try reading it. But where to start and how?.
So I just randomly opened it up and read the first thing my eyes fell upon.
Mathew 19: 23-24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Later I opened the Bible again randomly and read,
Mark 10:24-24
But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Strange I thought, not really understanding the consequence of the message. But believe me or not that evening I opened my bible again, only to find again in another place
Luke 18: 25
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The next day I was wondering about this bible, why the same story came up in different random places. So after work I went to the restaurant where I would eat dinner with a few brothers from the church. I told them of my Bible experience the past day, and a brother said, read on don’t stop there. So I opened my bible and read on while still in the resturant. When suddenly the Spirit of God came all over me, and I started shaking uncontrollably, now my eyes were opened to the Word of God, as I read these words…
mark 10: 29-30
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
I was so shocked by the revelation of my life, that I ran out of the restaurant, just had to get home. Walking the way home I passed the church just as my paster and his wife were leaving. He saw me and understood something great had just happened to me, mentioned what had just happened, and ran off home. Life was now changing so rapidly around me, felt a sudden urge to want to help everyone and tell them the good news of my living saviour Jesus Christ.
Now I had such an appetite for His Word, and spent every free moment reading. Imagine one who had never in thirty one years (dyslectic), ever read a single book, was now so hungry to learn more about my redeemer. Read it everywhere, on the buss, in the canteen at work, just couldn’t put it down.
Remember walking past the police station in town hoping they would come and check my pockets now, like they did before. My smokes were taken over by a Bible, this was now my new high. Felt like my life was finally worth living. Didn’t cross the road now until the lights were green, was so grateful for the new life, a terrible sinner saved only by grace alone. Hallelujah!