So I prayed that God would enable me to read and study the Bible without falling asleep. The answer
to my prayer was almost instantaneous. Now I could study the Bible for hours on end, and what particularly interested me was
the unique claims of Christ to be God and the only saviour of the world.
Robert and I would drive around in his car listening to loud and lively Jesus music. At first I could not
believe my ears. Christians have some really good music.
We listened to Larry Norman, Second Chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire,
Daniel Amos and many more. These were the happening Christian Musicians of my early days as a Christ One.
We would
go places and Robert would share J.C. with anyone and everyone. He did it with such ease and flow. One time we went into a
record store or something and there was this guy that ran the store
that looked like an alien (extraterrestrial). Just
looking at him frightened me. Still, Robert just walked on up to this guy, intitiated a conversation and they talked for hours.
This alien looking guy was bringing up arguments that I had never heard before and Robert knew the answers. Robert was not
an arrogant man. In fact he was very humble but still had a knowledge of the Bible that astounded me.
One time when
we had a few days off we drove to Savannah Georgia. We were headed to a house called Shiloh House. As soon as we walked in
the door I knew that God was there. The Christ Ones there were very loving. That evening we were all praying and I looked
upwards. The Holy Spirit enveloped me with a peace, boldness and Love that I will not ever be able to adequately describe.
I knew I had experientially met God himself and was humbled. A Boldness came over me that was similar to what the apostles
experienced in Acts chapter Four.
It says, "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye
done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and
elders, if we this day
are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all,
and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, [even] in him doth this man stand here before you whole.
He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.
AND IN NONE OTHER IS THERE SALVATION: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is
given among men, wherein
we must be saved. Now when they beheld the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. And seeing the man that was healed standing
with them, they could say nothing against it." (Acts 4:7-14)
The boldness that came over me was like this. I was ready
to speak for Christ and if necessary die for him. Similar to the apostles above this Holy Ghost moment convinced me that,
"in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven,
that is given among men, wherein we
must be saved."
As we lived those days in the Navy I found that Christ and His Word (Bible) have all the answers to
all the questions and arguments that the world could ever have. Since those days the Lord Jesus continues
to build on these
experiences to emphatically declare that He is the Way and the truth and the Life and there is salvation in none other.
Since then I have been to Hare Krishna Temples, invited Mormons and J.W.'s over to my house, debated
with a Jewish Chaplain on the
divine inspiration of the Bible. This is nothing more than doing what I believe God has called
and enabled me to do. I have been far from perfect in my evangelism and in my walk but at least had enough
conviction and desire to get better through obedience and his continued guidance.
"Looking unto Jesus the
author and completer of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1)