Four Deaths Till Salvation
Writer Author Derek Dill
Christian Article
:
Personal Testimony
- Fiction No
We all have Goliaths in our lives just as David did. Modern day Goliaths aren't nine foot tall giants armed to the teeth, able to devastate everything in their path, as was the case with David (1 Sam. 17).
These days, our Goliaths come in many forms: bills, broken marriages, broken homes, children who suffer the consequences of divorce, job losses, loved ones who seem to pass away before their time, cars that break down, hunger, disease, alcoholism, drug abuse, and the list goes on and on and on.
I have had many battles with Goliath right from birth. I was born with a cleft lip and a cleft pallet. Goliath made fun of me and stared at me endlessly, all through school. Later on, Goliath came in the form of my mom's alcoholism. For many years, she was consumed by it. Even dragging me off to Arizona from our home in Texas, chasing after her boyfriend, who was abusive to her. She and I got through that ordeal, and years later, I had my own battles once again. In July 2004, Goliath sucker punched me and the impact of that blow would last a lifetime.
In July 2004, the company I was at for seven years, announced that they were moving all of their operations back to the parent company in France. This forced me to find another job. In February 2005, my wife's grandfather passed away from natural causes. Two weeks later, my grandfather passed away from complications during surgery. In July 2005, my wife's father passed away from battling a long list of illnesses. October 2005, on the worst day of my life, my mother passed away in her sleep, unexpectedly. She had a bad heart. She was only 53 years old. Two weeks later, a week after my birthday, someone ran a stop sign and totaled my car. One year later, in October 2006, on the one year anniversary of the day that my mom was buried, my grandmother passed away. In November 2006, right before Thanksgiving and mine and my wife's wedding anniversary, my wife's mother passed away from a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 64 years old. Yes, I know Goliath all too well, but with God by my side, I have gotten through it all.
Goliaths can cause a lot of people to run from God, and to blame God. It drove me to God. I found Him as I touched my mother's cold face, lying lifeless, in her bed. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING YOU COMFORT when you see a loved one being zipped up in a body bag. The finality of that experience is something that takes time and supernatural healing to get through. Now, with Jesus in my life, I can get through the memories of those painful years, and the painful memories of my mother's death and funeral. I thank Jesus for bringing me peace.
Whatever Goliaths you are facing in your life, IF YOU SEEK GOD, YOU WILL FIND HIM, usually in your darkest hour. However, it does not have to be that way. Do not wait for Goliath to sucker punch you. Invite Jesus into your heart. He is the ONLY way to salvation, to having everlasting life, to go to Heaven, and to have peace, eternally.
You will still face challenges, to be sure, but God will be there to see you through them. Our trials in life are how we grow as Christians. We learn the most valuable lessons, not when things are going perfect, but when things are tough and seem hopeless, and we need a solution. Let God help you. He is the perfect solution.
Friends, as I write this article, September 24, 2008, our country is in crisis, our future as a nation is uncertain. I had to fight back the tears of reliving the past pains of my life while writing this testimonial of sorts. I did it not for sympathy. I beg of you, I implore you, if you are someone reading these words who has not put your trust in Christ, know this, I was once where you are. I promised my mother while she laid in her bed, lifeless and cold, that I would someday see her again. I want the same for you. I want peace and happiness for you and for you to one day go to Heaven. Yes, I know that I do not know you or your circumstances, but you know mine, and they are one hundred percent true. You have or are trying everything to get through your pain, just as I did. The drugs and alcohol can dull the pain, but only Jesus can stop it and the bleeding of your broken hearts.
If you are a Christian reading these words, I beg of you, share these words with someone who needs them. I want you to do this not so I get credit, but I feel that the situations that I have been put through might help someone who is there now, and does not know where to turn, or is going to be there and soon will need encouragement. If you do not want to share my story, share your own, but for the sake of mankind, SHARE JESUS with someone. I fear that our world does not have much longer, everything is lining up just so. Everyone had better start paying attention to what Israel is doing, for it will be critical.
One last thing and I am done. I thought just the other day about the day I buried my mother. I had the attention of about thirty people who were listening to me talk about her. I wish I would have pointed to her open coffin and said these words, "We will one day all be in this situation. None of us will bypass it. Take a good, hard, long look at the body which lies within this box. Though she may lie still, I promise you, her soul, the part that makes her think, laugh, cry, sing, and talk, is alive and with Jesus right now. Life does not end when our body ceases. We will all live forever, either with God or without Him, but we will live on. Earth is not all there is. There is a minister here presiding over this funeral. Take advantage of it. Do not let this death go unnoticed. Search your hearts and find out where you are and where you want to be when it is you who are in this box. Come forth and give your life to Christ now. On the day that we mourn my mother's passing, we can also celebrate a new life if you will only come forward."
Friends, thank you for reading my words. I would greatly appreciate responses from everyone who reads this. Please contact me and let me know if this has helped you or if you pass it on to someone else, if it helps them. It is my desire that God will use these pains in my life to eternally save someone else’s. May God always be with you all. Amen. Yours in Christ, Derek.
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About the Writer Author
State:
South Carolina
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United States
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eternalprose@aol.com
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