A story of redemption: my path back to Christ

As a teenager I made a decision that I wanted nothing to do with organized religion or God. Taking the same path as many indignant youths, who think they know better than their parents, I was determined to find my own way. So, I put all the religious teachings and morals behind me and lived life as I saw fit.

Fast forward fifteen years and not much had changed. My wife had always wanted for us to be a church going family. But, despite her best efforts, I would not give in and she was forced to deal with my stubborn ways.

As far as I was concerned all I could see of religion was hypocrisy. Anytime there would be a scandal involving a pastor I would point out how ironic it was that they rarely seemed to practice what they preach.

Then in the fall of 2013, I was faced with an eye opening experience. My wife and I had been having problems in our marriage, and she decided it was time to move on without me. I was devastated, my pride was hurt and I hit rock bottom. I spent a week wallowing in self misery. There was no sleep to be had, and I completely lost my appetite.

It had never occurred to me that I may need to start all over again on my own. I had become complacent in our relationship, and the lack of attention I paid to it reaped its dividends. Try as I might, I couldn't see any way to fix the damages that had been done to our relationship.

That's when something amazing happened. I've thought of it as my own personal miracle. Sitting at home, alone and distraught, I glanced across the room and saw the family bible she had left behind. The leather bound, gilded edge book reminding me of a time long past. This bible had sat on the coffee table for years with little attention paid to it. Yet there it was, calling to me, begging to be read. I timidly walked across the room and picked it up, it's weight and texture was comforting somehow.

Not sure where to start, I simply let the book fall open and I started to read. As I read my heart began to fill with a new hope. It seemed as though every page I turned had a message written just for my current situation. Pages kept going by and a newfound determination grew within me. I would accept Jesus back into my life and together we could fix what I alone could not do.

When I let my wife know that I had picked up the Bible and started a new life I'm quite certain that she was skeptical. Was this a ruse to win her back? An ill conceived plot to buy myself time?

Shortly thereafter, we started working to mend our relationship and attended a church the following week. The message I heard in church that morning moved me to tears. I found that which had been missing from my life for so long. A few nights later on my way home from work, I realized all this time the relationship that really needed fixed was the one between me and Jesus. When I got home, I went to my room and I prayed like I had never prayed in my life.

I asked for forgiveness for looking away from Him, and I asked to be accepted back into his fold. A weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in my life I knew what it meant to know Him. Jesus became more than an abstract concept or a history lesson to me. Jesus became personal, he became real and I could trust in Him.

I'm glad to report that my wife and I were able to fix our relationship and have recently celebrated our 11th anniversary. We have also found a church home at Bloomfield First Baptist Church. Jesus has become a large part of our marriage and as such our bond has grown stronger.

As the hymn states "Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so" even when I chose not to love Him.

Jon is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 21. He can also be reached via email at jonpswaby@gmail.com.