FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

I thought I was a Christian. That always had been true. You caught it by osmosis in Church from those you knew. I didn’t think it possible for God to care for me. I thought there were so many other fishes in the sea. Why should He even bother with anyone so small? It may be true for other folk, but somehow, after all, There surely were more people and bigger fish to fry. Why should He think of any insignificant as I? There were a dozen reasons why I should be ignored, But none of them, I later found, impressed our Risen Lord. The world that I was living in is ruled by certain men, Of senior position, who were not born again. Their titles were impressive, like modern Pharisees With money and position and various degrees. This system was quite normal. I didn’t think it odd, That hardly any one of them represented God. The captains of the industry all struggled to the top. And any opposition they’d very quickly stop. There was a pecking order that kept everything in check. And trying to oppose it brought trouble round your neck. Then came a day remembered as clear as yesterday. I’d gone to church to meet the girls, it was a certain way To find a marriage partner for that’s how it was done. But in course of flirting I met God’s only Son. I listened in amazement and much to my surprise, I found I was important in God the Father’s eyes! I learned He sent His Son to die especially for me. I cried so many tears that I could hardly see. He knew I wasn’t perfect. He knew that I had failed. He knew that I was feeling sort of spiritually jailed. He knew my every moment and all that I had done, And then He softly whispered, “welcome home My son”. I knew that I had Jesus. I knew I had His life. The deep inferiority and feelings of great strife, Were banished and departed and I was feeling free. There was no pecking order between Jesus Christ and me! I vowed that I would serve Him. I gave Him the control Of everything within me in body, heart and soul. It happened fifty years ago, since then He’s been my King. I wouldn’t want to swap this for all this world can bring, That once I’d been impressed with. That stuff had no appeal, And I could serve my Master with fervency and zeal. For Jesus Christ had rescued me and I had been transferred From darkness into light by simply trusting in His Word. Jim Strickland – written Monday, 25 July 2011