Menu Close

The beginning of the rest of my life – 1991

October 1991

This is a day i will never forget, a day in my life that changed who I am and who I was to become.

Svein Åge Mathisen
Svein Åge Mathisen

Tuesday, sitting at home with two friends and smoking hash having a blast. When suddenly we started discussing the bible and end times, like we knew anything! We heard that the Devil and the Antichrist was real, and had heard of the mark of the beast ‘ 666’.

Then I went downstairs to the toilet and on my way back up I asked Jesus to help me win this discussion. Not believing he would hear my wish, for who am I? A total looser without an identity, on drugs and in bad mental health.

As I walked into the sitting room, words started flowing out of me and my friends sat back in wonder. The Holy Spirit of God spoke through me about end times and the truths of the Word of God which I knew nothing about nor had ever heard spoken of before. I too was amazed at what was happening.

Then my friends left and I was alone, now everything seemed different. I found my new testament bible which I always had with me, had never opened it but found comfort in having it in my home. While holding it I spoke to Jesus and asked him if it was possible to experience peace in my heart. Not really expecting it to happen.

He heard my request and gave me more than I could ever imagine. I was at peace, no anguish, no more fear and no desire to  use drugs.

Now I really needed to find a church, but where?

There was one guy at work who was a christian, so the next day I told him my story and asked if I could go with him to his church. That was on thursday evening, they came and picked me up, and now I was excited.

Didn’t get anything out of the service, and during the alter call I felt that my feet were cemented like to pillars to the floor. Many were up front for preyer. Then the brother asked again saying just lift your foot and Jesus would do the rest. Suddenly I was moving foreword, standing up front with my hands in the air an tears pouring out of my face, not running down my cheeks. Jesus touched my life, I new I was forgiven and saved.

Svein Åge Mathisen
Svein Åge Mathisen

Nobody had come to prey for me, but that didn’t matter. Remember when I opend my eyes that on my left side they were laying people on the floor,  so what was this. Wow!, my life was now changed and I belonged to Jesus.

Leaving the church that evening seemed strange, the night sky was so light. Everything seemed so new, had never seen the world like this before. Hatred had changed place for love, suddenly life had meaning.

The next day at work my colleges stared in awe, keeping their distance. They saw and felt the difference in me. I was now the happiest person in the world, and not ashamed of my new experience.

Grace, wonderful grace!
A terrible sinner had now come home, Jesus loves me!
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Now was the beginning of the rest of my life, Jesus is real, and life is worth living.

Posted in New Life