You Need to Find The Lord

by Richard

© 01-08 Richard. All rights reserved

A depressed alcoholic biker decides to commit suicide, but Christ sets him free, and gives him real life

Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' Holy Bible John 8:31-32 (NIV)

I picked up a prostitute and figured on having one final pleasure before committing suicide. Because I was acting strangely she sensed something was amiss, even hinting that it seemed like I wanted to kill somebody. I told her I intended to kill myself the same day

Her parting words have stuck with me ever since:

You need to find the Lord. I know that doesn't have much merit coming from a prostitute, but trust me on this.

I returned home and finished off a second bottle of whiskey and wrote my suicide letter.

I was awoken by a cat licking my face, and a fiery sensation in my abdomen... I had shot myself in the left side.

1995 Honda Shadow VLX Chopper: 600cc V2, de-baffled stock pipes, 50 degrees of rake, 8" over tubes, wide-glide front end, 10" medium ape-hangers on HD style risers, rear end lowered 1.75", and the whole project was a gift from God

Back in the Summer of 1998 I'd gone through a lengthy divorce, one that took nine months to settle as far as the legal stuff is concerned. I refinanced my home, and my ex-wife was still living in the house because we agreed that she could stay there until construction of the condo was finished, which she had purchased with her part of the settlement.

I had been drinking heavily, and on a daily basis, after work. It was common for me to polish-off at least half a bottle of whiskey, and full-bottle nights were just as frequent.

I'd been depressed about the situation for quite some time, and all the events that led to it. Rather than talking about the problems I would turn to the bottle instead.

Many people resort to this, because it's tough living alone with nobody to console you.

I've since discovered that after you receive Christ as Lord, you're never alone.

One day in June I had about enough of life, and what little it seemed to be offering me at the time, so I set off on my 'death quest'. It started with a fifth of whiskey, and part way through bottle number two, as night fell on the city, I went looking for a good time.

I picked up a prostitute and figured on having one final pleasure before committing suicide.

Because I was acting strangely she sensed something was amiss, even hinting that it seemed like I wanted to kill somebody.

I told her I intended to kill myself the same day. Her parting words have stuck with me ever since:

You need to find the Lord. I know that doesn't have much merit coming from a prostitute, but trust me on this.

I returned home and finished off a second bottle of whiskey, wrote a suicide letter, and then I must have passed out, as I don't have much recollection of events after this. I remember the letter writing, I recall taking a late-night ride on my motorcycle to the store for another bottle of booze, and I remember retrieving one of my firearms.

I was awoken by a cat licking my face, and a fiery sensation in my abdomen, I had shot myself in the left side.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a superficial flesh wound, the bullet passed through a fatty layer, and exited without penetrating anything else.

A Psychiatrist evaluated me, and together with the Police, determined that although it was a suicide attempt, I apparently had thought better of it, and in the confusion I had accidentaly discharged the gun.

The Psychiatrist interviewed me about my future intentions, Did I still want to commit suicide? and such. I told him No. He asked if I felt I needed any help. I thought for a moment, and the words slowly trickled out of my mouth:

I think I need to get right with God.

I was a Roman Catholic then, and hadn't been in Church for about eight years, so I went to confession, and attended a few Masses afterwards. But I still had an empty feeling inside.

I smile today when I recall how I used to think. I thought that Church was meant to be boring. It seemed so repetitious and routine. Religion was more of a practice, or a process. It's kind of weird, how this Catholic background influenced my view of 'born again' types. I saw them as overly religious.

But when you get to know the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a relationship with Him. And that's true Chritianity; it's not a religion, it's a relationship.

That's what I like most about Church now, I never know what to expect. It's so much better when God shows up for Sunday Service!

But back to my story.

I'd quit drinking at this time and after the New Year's weekend of '98/99, I went with a girlfriend I was seeing to an Assembly of God Church.

I received Christ that night and immediately felt something refreshing.

Experiencing God for the first time was a unique and important moment in my life. Never before had I known such calm in my mind, and relaxation in the Presence of the Holy Spirit!

Have you discovered this peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ?

Later that year, I was experiencing some financial pressure, and had a lot on my mind. I was riding my motorcycle to Church one Sunday evening (March 28th '99), and I had veiled thoughts of suicide again. On top of this my body was going through 'torture' after being sober for six months, I was really craving a drink at this stressful moment. The Devil was working overtime to reclaim me. So distracted was my attention, I failed to see a line of stationary cars in front of me waiting for a green light. I locked up the brakes at 45 mph and slid sideways underneath the rear bumper of the last car. I lost a bit of flesh, my ankle and hip were sore, and so was my shoulder. The bike wasn't too badly damaged, I was able to ride it back home. The handlebars came loose in the risers, and the crash-bar had folded over the foot-peg-brake-pedal. The front fender, radiator grill, and one muffler were damaged as well.

At home I wondered if I should still bother going to Church that night, and 'reluctantly' I struggled painfully into my truck, and drove to Church.

I met up with one of the Pastors before service started, and we went to a private room and talked. I related all the events to date, and we discussed a few Biblical topics and prayed.

That night the Senior Pastor delivered an awesome message, the sermon was based on the Titanic Story and the synopsis was;

"You better get on the lifeboat, there's only so much room."

I re-committed my life to Christ that night, and can safely say the Devil will never be able to reclaim me again.

He couldn't stop me going to Church, and two days later he couldn't even keep me off my motorcycle.

And the alcohol craving was GONE!

I skipped the '12 Step Programme' and was cured of my addiction by taking only One Step into Jesus' loving arms.

That black-tongued-liar Satan, ain't got nothin' on the God I know and love. The Lord Jesus Christ.

He said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 (NIV)

That's become my favourite verse from the Bible.

I still say a prayer for Nicki, the prostitute, from time to time, for God's special blessing for her wherever she may be now. I never got a chance to thank her for the message that originally fell on deaf ears. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways.

Praise to the King of Kings.

You know the Titanic story, a luxury liner for the wealthy elite that sank on her maiden voyage. The owners were so proud of her design, they boasted that, 'God Himself couldn't sink her!' When iceberg warnings were relayed the Titanic's radio operators ignored them, as if saying, 'Leave us alone, we're celebrating.'

The Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, everyone on board was doomed. The ship's Designer admitted there were only enough lifeboats for less than half the passengers and crew.

Picture the situation: the ship is sinking. There are not enough lifeboats. The icy water will bring certain death. Would you choose life, or would you prefer to stay on the doomed ship? Think of the lifeboats as the Hand of God, reaching down to accept you. Would you climb aboard and accept eternal life?

Fifteen hundred people went into the icy water on that cold dark night. Some were trapped within the wreckage, some were knocked unconcious, many even chose to stay behind. Of those people, only six were rescued. Six out of fifteen hundred.

The point is this: You don't know when you'll draw your last breath. Maybe in ten years time, maybe ten seconds from now.

Will you put-off accepting Christ as your Saviour today?

About seven hundred people survived the Titanic disaster. The rest died, many by waiting rescue ships, which arrived too late. Of those who stayed behind, six were granted a second chance. Less than half of one percent. You don't have to live in Las Vegas to know that those are lousy odds.

Can you afford to choose to be left behind?

Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour

All you have to do is close your eyes, lift your hands towards Heaven and sincerely call on His Name

"Lord Jesus, I want you in charge of my life! No-one can save me but you alone. Cleanse me by your Blood, and forgive all my sins. I no longer desire this old life of mine, give me a new start. Amen"

It's that easy. These days they'll let anyone into Heaven, all you gotta do is ask. Don't miss the boat.

Read The Titanic Story That Cameron Missed

© 97-08 Chick Publns Used by permission