I became interested in Jesus early in life. My grandfather was a minister of the Gospel until the day he died. I believe real ministers never retire; they just get promoted, kicked upstairs you might say. And because of my grandfather's, as well as my mother's and father's influence, I fell in love with Jesus. I received Him as Lord of my life when I was quite young. Now that doesn't mean I was perfect in my flesh, it just means Jesus made me perfect in His sight. I'm quite certain most people would agree that I'm just as human as the next man.
I have a passion for Jesus, and I've never been able to get enough of God and His word. On the day my wife and I were married, we commenced a daily routine of reading the Bible together that has lasted over 45 years, and counting.
One of most important things we did on our wedding day was to take our brand new Zenith TV, one of the very first equipped with remote control, and present it to my dad and mom as a gift. With our TV gone, we had all the time in the world for Bible Study, and the two of us read the Bible nightly.
My wife, Judy, and I have read the Bible from cover to cover many times. And a life-long love affair with Jesus and His word began for both of us.
Now, don't get me wrong, I did plenty of Bible reading and studying long before I was married, but it became even better having a loving wife with which to share that special time.
On our second date, I lead my wife to the Lord. We stayed up all night just talking about the Lord, and reading His word. She asked Him to come and live in her heart that very day. She, too, has a heart for God.
Now, I know many people who become Bible teachers or leaders, pride themselves on how many books they've read about the Bible, or books about other peoples' relationships with God. But for the most part, the only authority I recognize regarding God and His Word, is the Holy Spirit of God. If I want to know something about God, I go to God for the answers. Likewise, if I desire to know or understand something about man, I again go to God. After all, He created us from the dust of the earth, and He has revealed to us in His word, all He wants us to know in that regard.
I wasn't taught by man. I never attended seminary or colleges to see what the professors at the universities had to say about Jesus or God. I also did not consult TV evangelists or ministers. I did, however, go directly to God and His word for the answers I was seeking. God continues to teach me to this very day. I thank Him for everything He's taught me. He has given me His very life, which He lives in and through me, and has taken away all my sins at the cross, where He took away all of your sins as well. And I live by the grace God has extended to me, and faith in the Son He loves, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
God has given me everything I need for life and godliness. My hope is that I might be able to pass on to you what God has taught me. But the Holy Spirit is the real teacher here, not me. I can tell you what He's revealed to me, and hopefully help you to understand His word and His love for YOU. But what it comes down to is this, you personally must come to faith in Jesus, and ask Him to give YOU life. That way He will be living in you, and He will lead you into all truth as well. The things of God are only spiritually discerned, and only His spirit living in you can reveal it's meaning to you.
