I am a longtime friend of Chad's.
After Chad provided the link to this forum, I spent a few minutes reading the posts and wanted to share a few truths.
First of all Chad and I are sinners bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;(That is ALL)- The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23
Before I committed my life to Jesus Christ and felt a need for Him, I thought I was a good person and many others did as well. I helped people in need, opened up my house many times for troubled people, donated a lot of money to “good” charitable causes and was kind to many. That did not make me a good person. That was the surface side of my life which appeared “good” in my actions. But the heart is deceitful, selfish above all things. These good actions are ok but I was still in darkness. You see in Jeremiah 17:9-10 it states: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." You see He checks the motives. If you read my testimony you will see that there were many other things that lay under the surface but when exposed to the Truth and Light (Jesus Christ) He covered them in His blood. We can fool many around us but there is One that has infinite capabilities and will bring all things to light in the end. Ephesians 5:12-15. If you perused the testimony at the Unfulfilled site, I was a chief sinner and a fallen creature. I am not proud of that but it is true. 1 Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” A few years ago when I was heavy into drinking, drugs, pornography, immorality and selfish ambition, I would not have taken kindly to someone telling me about the goodness of Jesus Christ and He could offer me such a better life, but I needed to hear that. The opposition is strictly due to the force of who was controlling me in my soul. II Corinthians 10:4; John 8:44 I had a non-responsive, bitter attitude to anyone wanting to help me.
I can testify this life is so much better and my destiny has changed for eternity. There was little I didn’t have afforded me before Jesus came into my heart. All of the tangible things but I did not have real peace, real security and real strength. I wish I would have heard it years prior but that was not God’s plan. When I realized my sin hung Jesus on the cross, I put Him to death. A perfect Lamb, blameless and I had a hand in putting Him to death. But, He forgave me, came off the cross, picked me up and forgave me. He gave me a right way to the Father. He conquered the curse of sin and death, the wages I deserved. That is wonderful news. It puts a lift in my step every morning.
Sharing His Goodness with a pure heart giving Him the Glory demonstrates His love for the lost. It is out of love that one shares about what Jesus Christ has done for all of us. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. It is critical this happens prior to death. Death is the call of judgment we all face. We will meet God, believe it or not you will. You cannot deny death, you will face it. I noticed a post of a rider that was killed and it made me think of my neighbor whose mother died of a heart attack a few days ago. I am not sure what the posts are for Jim. My neighbor’s mother was saved. I visited the funeral home last night and there was a celebration and sadness was not the mood. It was comforting to hear her son say she is such a better place now and this departure and separation is just a temporary one.
Chad wants to sow seed wherever He rides. What a testimony of someone that was an atheist. God is truly demonstrating His power through Chad and many others that are sowing seed. “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field” Matt. 13:23-24 This is why we spread seed through jerseys, cards, billboards, sermons, messages, ect. This seed has already produced so much fruit. God is faithful. There are so many that think they are “fulfilled” just like I was but are deceived. You can be temporarily fulfilled in life’s pleasures and relationships but eternal fulfillment is only through Jesus Christ. We are obedient to spread seed, He does the work by the power of His Holy Spirit. God will take care of the rest. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to convict and move the person to knowledge and revelation that they need Jesus Christ. John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt (or will expose the guilt of the world) in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9:
In closing, I am a sinner saved by grace. There is nothing righteous about my being other than being identified, sanctified and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. He has bought me into the family and right relationship with the Father. Although I am so undeserving and unworthy, His grace is sufficient and amazing. His offer stands for all.
Love in the Name of Jesus,
Brian