JIM (life story)

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

Jim (now 89 years of age) tells of how Jesus rising from the dead is the key to our relationship with God. He is alive and when we believe and trust Him, the living Christ indwells in our spirits.

Committing our lives to Christ

My name is Jim and I'm writing this in my maturity. I've reached my 89th birthday. I was fortunate in that I was born into a Christian family, but this didn't make me a Christian. From memory, I was 22 or 23 when I committed my life to Christ at a meeting where an evangelist spoke. I belonged to a little church that was interdenominational in outlook and where people from a variety of churches would take turns to preach to us. My girlfriend and I went to a meeting and when the evangelist invited the congregation to commit their lives to Christ, we made that commitment. However, it was years later when the true meaning of that commitment was suddenly made clear to me and my relationship with Christ was fully established.

The life of Christ is the key

I was managing a farming cooperative and had gone to the city on business when a friend told me that Major Ian Thomas (a well known speaker at the time) was speaking in a church during the lunch hour. I arrived at the meeting a few minutes late and it took a little time to tune in to what Major Thomas was saying. He referred to Romans 5:11. "Christ died to reconcile us to God. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His life." I was suddenly able to see clearly that we shall be saved by the life of Christ. It was at that moment that I recognized the meaning of Colossians 1:26, 27 when it says "The mystery which was hidden from your eyes and from generations, but now has been revealed to the Saints; Christ in your hearts is your hope of glory" (The Living bible).

Know the truth

Things that had previously been a mystery to me were suddenly revealed. John 8:32 came to mind. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." That sense of freedom cannot be described; it has to be experienced.

Jesus is alive!

Why did Christ rise from the dead? I had never asked that question, but Ian Thomas answered it for me that day. It was as if a veil from my eyes had been taken away. I suddenly understood what it meant to be a Christian. I understood why Christ rose from the grave. It was to have the living Christ indwell my spirit, living in me, guiding me. Jesus was alive! Now, as I look back on my life I can see where He has guided me. I can see where I made decisions that seemed to be against my normal logic but later proved to be the right ones.

Is the King your friend?

Slim Dusty used to sing, "I wouldn't want to go on living if I didn't have a King for a friend." That was the question that the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, left with the gathering that attended Slim Dusty's funeral service. Is the King our friend? Like David I can say, "The Lord is my Shepherd" and I know it.

May the life of Christ set you free …
Jim