Got Jesus?

Ive been a Christian since my early teen years and I would have to say that for the most part of my walk with the Lord, Ive been lacking. I would call myself a "typical Christian" but I know that would upset a lot of people. But, if I were more Christ like, I think I would probably upset even more people. I think if Jesus would have come to earth today, instead of all those years ago, He would still face the rejection and ridicule, even more so. I believe Jesus would be hanging out down at the beer joints, the homeless shelter, the wrong side of the tracks, the crack houses, you know...wherever the lost, the broken hearted, the sinners are hanging out at. Those people that most of us turn a blind eye to, a cold shoulder at. The homeless guy who walks into McDonalds and stands next to us to order and we grab our kids...that's the guy. Or is it the professional man or woman, Doctor, Lawyer, etc.. who is lost and needs rescue.

But the fact is, Jesus did come all those years ago. He left quite an impact on the people of this earth. He left us with some awesome gifts too. He left us with the Holy Spirit. He left us with a resurrection power. He left us with the same tools that we could continue the work He started. He called us all to be disciples. He called us to heal the sick, to bring hope to the broken hearted, cast out demons...all the things He himself did. He also made a way for us to approach our Heavenly Father, in His name. What are we doing for Christ? Us Christians? Are we spreading the gospel, are we doing all those things He did? Are our lamps shining in a dark world? Or are we just going to church everyday?

I know, I'm stepping on toes and people are out gathering up rocks to throw at me right now. But the word of God is a two edged sword so its cutting me too.

Years ago, as a law enforcement officer, I was working narcotics. I did that for years. But at this time I'm speaking of, I was working undercover, managing informants, buying drugs, serving search warrant and at this time the state was swamped with methamphetamine. Its a dangerous, very addicting drug. It takes over peoples lives. People were actually selling their children for the drug. So, I was in over my head everyday. When I began, I actually thought I could make a difference. But everybody I arrested was quickly replaced with another. And the prisons were turning out better meth cooks, with better recipes, better ways to deal drugs, smarter criminals.

The only people in my life besides my family, who I barely had time to see, were junkies. I would wire them up, send them into houses and they would buy drugs for me. Later they would introduce me, then I would buy drugs from them myself, then later follow up with a search warrant. and taking down a meth lab is dangerous in itself, not to mention the meth cooks, who are so eat up with the drug that they live in constant paranoia, see worms crawling on their skin and constantly see things that aren't there.

My heart was getting very hard and cold. Even though I attended church regularly, I began to see everybody the same, having little to no compassion whatsoever. I began to literally hate junkies, drug dealers, meth cooks, all of them. I was in a dark place myself. I knew I needed help and so I began to pray each day that God melt my heart and see people as He sees them.

How many of you have read the bible from cover to cover? I have. Now, how many have read a lot of the bible and can remember a lot of passages? That's a lot of you I know. How many have read the same chapter over and over and then one day it really really means something to you that it didn't before? God answered my prayer by speaking to me through a passage in the bible that I had read many times.

Many of us have read the story in Luke chapter 8 where Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. Let me just say that Jesus never did anything unless it meant something. He was on a mission. Most of us knows what happens in this story. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

• Those disciples had to know at the time that this storm was a spiritual one. If not, they figured it out later, because this same event is mentioned by other disciples in the bible too. They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. So to the disciple, one storm ends and another begins. That is, when the storm calms, they hear the ranting and raving of a demon possessed man. They may have thought, "I would rather face the storm than this." What stood out to me in this passage, is the fact that this demon possessed man just happened to be in the right spot to meet his Lord that day. Maybe God had whispered in his heart "your deliverer is coming." I would like to think that this man knew his redeemer was on his way and could see him coming, perhaps he even ran to the waters edge with the demons resisting him the whole way. I'm sure they knew Jesus was coming too, because of the storm.

This man had a terrible life. Not much life at all. He had been rejected and kicked out of town by the locals. He hung out at the graveyard. He was demon possessed by perhaps somewhere between 2,000 (the number of the pigs) and 6,000 (the number of Roman Soldiers in a Legion). He had super human strength to be able to break his chains, so I'm sure others were in fear of this man. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" These demons did not want Jesus to cast them into the Abyss, the final place for demons and satan, but they wanted to remain in the area. 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 

30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. 

Let me also point out, like St Mark did how this this man would often cut himself. For those of you who don't know, this practice of cutting oneself is a way of expressing emotional pain, or covering up emotional pain with physical pain.

So, I'm sure this man was not very popular or liked, so much so that the local townspeople kicked him out of town. I'm sure they did not even like the sight of him. But like I said before, I had read this story many times but this time, my heart melted as I read that Jesus loves His sheep so much, he would leave the 99 for the 1, He would travel through a virtual hurricane just to get to us, that He knows each one of us and knows our situation. God did answer my prayer and gave me a compassionate heart and so I ask each one of you, do you know someone who is hurting today? Is there someone on your heart that needs prayer? Do you know someone who doesn't know the Lord? Let us all continue the work that Jesus started. It starts with compassion. It starts with trying to see people as God sees them. Pray with someone today, help someone that needs help. If there is anyone reading this who doesn't know the Lord then just say this simple prayer, " "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

Jesus said "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be.

If you did pray this prayer, please brother or sister, leave me a comment and I will continue to pray for you. If you are a new Christian, I encourage you to begin attending a bible based church in your area and read your bible continually, and pray continually. Stay focused on God.

I would love to read comments from anyone reading this. If there are any of you who need prayer, please let me know and we can come into agreement together believing in an awesome God.