50 Years Ago

Fifty years ago this weekend I received Jesus Christ as my Savior. I was born again. I was saved. I was made alive in Christ. I moved from the kingdom of darkness to light. There are many ways to express it and I often try to explain it but experiencing it made all the difference in my eternal trajectory. One moment in time and everything changed.

Betty and I were sweethearts at the time (still are) and we attended a revival meeting on a Saturday night at Gratz Baptist Church in Gratz, Kentucky. Many details are vivid in my mind. I always thought it was Saturday, October 5th but it must have been October 7th. October 5th was a Thursday in 1972. My Dad was preaching that night and The Gospel Reporters were singing. I loved and still love good gospel music, Southern style.

That particular night “Bro Buck” was preaching from 2 Kings 5 about Naaman and Elisha. Naaman was a leper and leprosy was incurable but Naaman had his pride and his plans. When Elisha said, “Go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan River and be clean,” Naaman resisted. He knew of other rivers that were cleaner and better than the Jordan. Why must he dip seven times in a muddy river? His servants said to him, “If the prophet had asked you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? This is simple. Do what the prophet said.” Naaman obeyed the word of the prophet. He went in a dying leper and he came out clean.

Fifty years ago the Holy Spirit settled all over me like a smothering blanket of conviction. As the preacher preached, he spoke of the many ways mankind tries to deal with the leprosy of sin.

There is the world’s way of dealing with it. Live a good life and don’t do anything terribly bad.

There is religion’s way. Be sincere. Be baptized. Join the church. Read the Bible. Tithe.

There is your own way. Just as Naaman had his own opinion, even though he knew no one who had been healed of leprosy, still mankind makes its own plans.

These are all false rivers that cannot cleanse us.

Ultimately, cleansing can only come God’s way. He has provided a sacrifice for our sins. It is only through Jesus who died for us and rose again that we can have our sins cleansed. We must go to that cleansing river and humble ourselves before our loving Savior. Cleansing proceeds from the blood of Jesus and whoever calls out to Him shall be saved.

I know because it happened to me 50 years ago this week. I was justified and I am still being sanctified. He is still working on me. As “Just as I Am” was being played, I stepped out of that seat and took the first step and I was immediately forgiven. The leprosy of sin was cleansed. The burden of doubt that I had carried for years was lifted and I was given a “know so” faith.

The next morning at my home church I stood before the people who had known me from birth and confessed the hypocrisy of pretending to be something that I was not. Shortly thereafter I followed the Lord in believers baptism and surrendered my life to declare the gospel. It has been a glorious 50 years.

I still struggle. I still sin. But I am standing in Christ who is perfecting me until that day when I am in His presence.

If I can help you, believe me I want to. Contact us at takeheart.org or message me on Facebook.