The pressure of being a police officer took its toll on Jack leading to alcoholism and clinical depression. God used one supernatural encounter and words from the bible to revolutionize Jack's life …
My background
I was born in 1954 into a large loving family that went to a mainstream conservative church. I heard all the bible stories and believed they were just stories. I must admit that I knew right from wrong but as a teenager I chose the way of the world. I do not recall being taught about salvation but knew there may be a judgment. I had joined the Police Force at the age of seventeen and before I graduated at eighteen, I was married. Seven years later I was divorced and went on to have several relationships that were based on self and what I wanted.
Starting to 'lose my nerve'
After 14 years in the Police Force I had made my job my first love. It was at this time I met and married a lovely young woman who mentioned she was a Christian. This did not interest me as I had my job. We went on to have four lovely children who were raised more by their mother as I had my job to do. At this time I had been in the Force for 20 years, had some near-death experiences but rarely thought there was a God even though I sometimes went to church with my wife. I didn't really understand what it was all about and I did not feel comfortable being in church. Around this time I started to feel I was loosing my nerve.
My life in the police force
My drinking increased and so did the nightmares. I was often working alone at night and I started looking the other way when I saw a difficult situation. I still enjoyed the opportunity to help others in need. I think I was looking for approval. After a situation that threatened my family as well as myself, I took long service leave. The night I returned to work after five months I was asked to apprehend a man who had tried to murder another police officer the night before. I knew there was something wrong with me and, although I arrested the man, I did not perform well. I asked for support from my senior officers but they just told me to get on with the job. I began to criticize senior officers and it just went down hill from there. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some traumatic incidents that I had been involved with over all those years had not been dealt with and 12 months of counseling began. I handed in my badge and gun and a big chunk of me was gone. After two years of treatment I was pensioned out of the Force.
Demanding evidence
In those two years of treatment I had been encouraged by a couple of friends who happened to be Christians and they said that I should become a Christian. I started to read books and listen to tapes but nothing happened. On the 1st of April 1994 I went out into the paddock behind the house and called out to God. I shouted that I was not a happy man. I said, "If you are real I want proof … evidence! I want you to prove the bible is real! Oh, and my friends say I need a personal relationship with Jesus! "
A clear voice
That's were I left it till two weeks later. It was a Saturday night and I was laying in the bath around 7.30pm and I was thinking about this demand that I had made on God. I was alone and had not been drinking (that was unusual). I heard someone on my left say in a clear voice "John". I turned to find no one. I thought, "Could that have been God?"
An amazing experience … pieces to a puzzle
My thoughts went back to Sunday School. The first four books of the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As I thought of this a most amazing thing happened. In front of me on the wall I saw three golden numbers a foot tall. They were 211. I thought, "wow, you have my attention now!" I started to try and work this out and I could still see them on the wall in front of me. I thought maybe they stood for page 211? Then I remembered that in the bible there were chapters and verses. Could it be Chapter 21 verse 1? No, that didn't seem right. The numbers were still on the wall all this time. The only alternative was Chapter 2 verse 11. Immediately I thought of this the numbers disappeared off the wall. I was excited!
The power of the bible to change us
I got out of the bath, dried myself quickly and went into the lounge room. There on the table was the new Good News Bible my wife had bought for me a week before but I had refused to touch it let alone read. (My wife was a wise lady leaving the bible there.) I picked the bible up and after some searching I finally found John Chapter 2 verse 11. I read the words and my life changed forever! It comes from the story of Jesus performing his first miracle. It goes, "Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana in Galilee, there he revealed his glory and His disciples believed in him."
My demands met
Through this experience in my bathroom God had answered all my demands.
Demand number 1: Prove you are real Answer: Yes … God spoke to me and performed a miracle by putting the numbers on the wall. Demand number 2: Prove the bible is real Answer: Yes ... God used His Word (the bible) to speak to me personally.
Jesus is who He says He is
From that moment I knew that Jesus is everything He says He is and He is my personal saviour. From that day on God has confirmed his presence in my life by speaking to me, showing me places to read in the bible. The very next day He guided me directly to part of the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, which I read. God continues to direct in this fashion.
Let go and let God take control
As a bonus, God healed me of alcoholism and clinical depression. It has not all been smooth sailing but even though I was a Police officer in many different exciting situations and was given praise and commendations, I have not been happier than in the last 12 years since becoming a Christian. I have a peace and reassurance that goes beyond anything I have ever known before. My relationship with my wife and children gets better and better every year. God has done all this and I am thankful every day. If you read this and have not received all that Jesus has planned for your life I encourage you to let go, and let God take control of your life.
