Darkness before Dawn

My name is Jim Shanks. To all intents and purposes, I was born on the 'wrong side of the tracks'. My mother and father divorced when I was two years old, and my early home life was plagued by alcoholism and intolerance; my father was more interested in earning money than bringing up myself and my older brother David. I was rebellious against all forms of authority, and this displayed itself in disobedience and theft at home, and violence and vandalism in the wider community, including school. Solvent abuse gripped my early teenage years like an iron vice, and as a result, children's panels and even mental institutions became familiar scenes for me. Later on, when I entered employment, I knew frequent dismissals for theft, drunkenness and violent behaviour, and also did time in prison. In all this time, despite my bravado attitude, a deep insecurity and sense of being unwanted and unloved haunted me: I felt there was no-one I could trust. The Bible rightly says, "The wicked flee when no-one pursueth." (Proverbs 28 v.1).

Possibly the only positive thing in my life was my love for, and skill in playing football. This was my idol. When a bad ankle injury smashed my hopes of ever playing again I was devastated. However, I was made coach, and diverted all my energies into being the best! In my spare time I was training hard, but also living hard in the pubs and nightclubs. Even getting married, and three years later having a wee daughter did nothing to tame me, and I certainly had no time for religion, or for God. It was with me as the Scriptures say: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14 v.12).

One day during tea break, a chemical salesman came into my workplace at the Sports Centre. My boss was not in at the time, so he entered into conversation with Betty the cleaner. The man, Andrew by name, said he was from South Africa, but more amazingly to me, he told about the change that Jesus Christ had made in his life, breaking addictions, and giving him new meaning and purpose. While Betty did all the talking, I just listened, and became convinced in my heart that this man was speaking truth. When I went back to work in the grounds a tremendous peace I had never felt before welled up inside me, and the whole creation became alive to me. The Word of God says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Ps. 19 v.1), and that day nature took on a whole new beauty for me, as if a veil had been pulled back, and God was revealing himself for the first time!

Andrew invited Betty and me to a gospel meeting a week later. I excused myself and did not attend. Three weeks later he made another invitation, which I accepted. As soon as I entered the building I realised that these people had a peace and a joy I had never known. I heard personal testimonies of how the Lord Jesus Christ had changed men's lives. One thing the main speaker said which gripped my heart was: "Tonight, this could be your last chance!" At the end of the meeting I was under deep conviction of my own ungodliness and unworthiness before a holy God. Romans 3 v.23 says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God", and that night all my vileness came up on record before me, and I knew I was a sinner, deserving only God's wrath and eternal punishment. I also realised that only Jesus Christ could save me. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life no man cometh unto The Father but by me" (John 14 v.6). "Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4 v.12). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3 v.16). When Andrew asked me what I thought of what I had heard, my simple reply was, "Tonight I want to become a Christian". That very night, my friend, I was born again of the Spirit of God, and was set free by the Lord Jesus Christ from the bondage of alcohol, cursing and swearing, womanizing and nightclubbing. I became a new creature in Christ, and all the old things passed away. (See 2 Corinthians 5 v.l7).

What about you, my friend? You may feel all is going well for you, but the Bible tells us that the man who trusts in his own heart is a fool (Proverbs 28 v.26). Alternatively, your world may be dark, as mine was, and you may feel it is about to come crashing down about your ears. Whatever your position, you, like me and everyone born into this world, are a sinner, and under God's wrath (see John 3 v.36). Our sin has separated us from God (Isaiah 59 v.2), but God loves us so much that He sent His own Son to die on the cross, shedding His blood and taking the punishment we deserved. Only in Christ Jesus can we be freed from the penalty of our sin. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6 v.23). Do you want to know Him? He will receive you if you come to Him repenting of your sin, and asking Him to save you and give you a new life. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6 v.37). As He did for me, He will turn your darkness into dawn.

7-DEC-05