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My Experience of God’s Goodness

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In the fall of 1974, the most amazing thing happened to me.  After years of rejecting Christianity and ridiculing Christians, I became one. On a cool October evening, I embarked on a lifelong journey of discovery – learning the truth about myself and the reality of having a personal relationship with God.

Contemporary thought teaches us that man is essentially good, but that has not been my experience.  For it was not through nobleness of character or purity of heart that I came to Christ that night.  Rather, it was a last-ditch effort to escape the cold, dark dungeon of self.

I was raised in a small denominational church by a loving mother and father who wanted the best for me.  I believe it was there that the foundation was laid for my future decision.  But, like many teenage males of my generation, I rebelled against my parents and their religion, turning instead to what I thought was the exciting world of  rock music, alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Thus began the downward spiral of my life.

After several years of groveling at the bottom, I began to look for a way out.  I tried everything I knew to rid myself of an inward plague I later learned was sin, but to no avail.  Not being helped by any of these, I finally came to the conclusion that only God could help me.  But it would not, I had concluded, be through Christianity.

I subsequently read the major scriptures of the world’s foremost religions trying to find God.  I even placed myself under the strict discipline of an eastern guru for two years, only to have my inward state grow worse.

Fortunately for me, there were individuals who cared more about others than themselves.  They prayed for me.  They visited me and shared their faith with me.  One wrote letters to me. Their words and prayers had a significant impact on me, because in time there developed  in me a heartfelt conviction that I had to try Jesus Christ.

After a short walk and brief prayer that evening, during which I received Christ, I was different. Somehow I knew the search was over; I was home.  Somehow a lost and hopeless man now had hope.  Somehow the very thing I had resisted I now embraced.

This is the wonder of what is called the grace of God.  It is the divine influence upon the heart that shapes and molds a person’s life into one of love and obedience to God and service to others.  That was – and continues to be, my experience.

I am grateful to be a recipient.

Vision for Lansing Begins with Me

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Any good business owner with a vision knows that without a strategy a vision will likely go unrealized.  The same is true for a city or nation. Without a plan of action, a vision is mere fantasy.

So what’s the plan for Lansing’s future?

Since the building block of society is the family, and families are consisted of individuals, the plan begins with me.

First, I must get right with God.

Being right with God means there is nothing between me and Him.  No person, place or thing.  No habit, practice or pleasure.  No career, bank account or past-time.  No other ‘gods’ but Him.

How can I be right with God?  Many religions describe various ways to find God and live right.  But only one makes claims which, if true, exclude all others.  Those claims are made by Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way.”  By believing in His life, death, and resurrection, I can be forgiven and accepted by God.

Second, I must get right with others.

There is no prison more secure and no cancer more vicious than the prison of resentment and the cancer of unforgiveness.  Unresolved conflicts separate and destroy relationships between people.  They are the antithesis of love and harmony.  There may be no greater evil.

For my family and community to be all that I want them to be, I must face those I have wronged me and forgive them.

In addition, I should be the first to admit a wrong and to say, “I’m sorry.”  This act of humility will go a long way to solve family and societal ills and pave the way for a better city.

Third, I must clean up my act.  Put another way, “Sin no more.”  If I drink too much, I must practice moderation.  If I am cheating on my spouse – in thought or deed – I need to stop and admit it.  If I am stealing from work, I must quit and restore what I have stolen.

Although these days there is a concerted effort to redefine right and wrong, deep down I know what is right.  It is called conscience, and I need to heed its voice.  God knows the damage I do when I choose to do what is wrong and fail to consider its impact upon others.  None of us lives to him or herself.

Finally, I must get my priorities straight.  On one occasion, a friend of mine who was fighting cancer told me that when he received the news and was faced with the ultimate – the fact that he might die  – he realized what is important in life:  family and faith.

The truth is all of us will face death someday, and I am sure we won’t be thinking of our work or possessions.  Instead, we’ll be wishing we could go back and do some things over; that we would have spent more time with our family and those close to us.  But then it will be too late.

I must put God first, my family second, and my career third – in that order.  Any other order and life will be full of regrets.

The vision for Lansing – one which satisfies our spiritual, moral, cultural, political, and economic aspirations – begins with me.

For those who want something better, it starts with you, too.