“God in the Ghettos”
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Buster writes:
I know now that He knew me before the foundations of the earth and has worked His good-will in my life, even when I only knew Him in a detached and unconcerned way. During those years, I knew only self-protection and keeping my back against a wall, for the area I grew up in demanded facing that reality daily. In those days, I would strike first, before others could do it to me. I sinned greatly against man and God without much thought and with a lot of justification by my constant comparison to others that were “caught” and/or openly “over-the-top” sinners. I did, however, have parents who loved each other and Him. They knew God and kept me in prayer and out of as much trouble as they could.
One night, during my nineteenth year, I was alone in my room and I opened that dusty old black covered book that was given to me years before. I was told it contained “The Way” to God. Its pages fell open to one of the inspired writings of David. Although much of it I did not understand, I came to the words God would use as a knife to cut through all that self protection and pride. It was there I read, “Against Thee and Thee only have I sinned” and my eyes were opened. For the first time I knew it had all been against God: it was to him I was responsible and I had no excuse, nor could I blame-shift my sins onto someone else. I was guilty. I needed a savior for I could not save myself from God. In that moment God brought to my mind the verses I had to memorize in Sunday school: John 3:16, “God So Loved that He gave his only son”. I knew I was lost in my sin against God. My only hope was Jesus Christ. I lost the night on my knees and woke the next morning still there with the open Bible and assurance of my salvation. For the Holy Spirit filled my heart and mind with the many Scriptures and teachings I had had over the years at home, Sunday school and Church, as well as reflected in the lives of my parents and their many Christian friends. Chief among the Scriptures was the rest of John 3:16 “that who-so-ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!” That night while alone with God and His Word, I believed and I was assured of my forgiveness and eternal life as I talked with God.
Therefore, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it!” (Proverbs 22:6) God is faithful! He has a plan and He will bring it to pass. No one comes to the Father unless He calls them, some in a load clash of thunder, others, like me, by His stilling, soft, quiet, and loving voice, through His Word, planted in me years before and nurtured by prayer and perseverance.
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Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on June 6th, 2006 and filed under Christian Families, Grace, Overcoming sin, Your Stories.
June 11th, 2006 at 11:39 am
This story gives me hope that all of the teachings that my husband and I have instilled in our sons are still in them and that God can use this reservoir to return them to Him. Even though the Scripture in Proverbs is not a promise from God, although I always hear it spoken of as if it is, instead Proverbs are but an observation of the way things usually turn out; I have stronger hope that my sons will walk with God again the way they used to because of this story! Thanks for sharing your story Buster. It’s encouraging to read.