WHERE WOULD I BE?

LAST NIGHT AT CHURCH SERVICE, BRO JOHNNY WEST LED TESTIMONY SERVICE.  JOHNNY IS A MEMBER OF OUR YOUTH.  HE AND I GO BACK A LONG WAY.  IN FACT, HE PROBABLY DOESNT KNOW IT, BUT I REMEMBER HIM AS A BABY.  HE DOES HOWEVER REMEMBER THE DISAGREEMENTS HE AND I HAD SEVERAL YEARS BACK.  AT ONE TIME, HE AND I DIDNT MUCH CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.  TODAY IS A DIFFERENT STORY ALTOGETHER.  I AM SO PROUD OF JOHNNY AND ALL THAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN HIM AND THROUGH HIM.  JOHNNY MADE A STATEMENT LAST NIGHT DURING TESTIMONY SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.  HE SIMPLY ASKED A QUESTION.
........WHERE WOULD I BE IF NOT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD........

I THINK OF THAT QUITE OFTEN.  I ASK MYSELF THE SAME QUESTION.  THE ANSWERS SCARE ME. 

IF NOT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, I CAN TELL YOU WHERE AND WHAT I WOULD BE.  I WOULD BE LOST IN SIN AND CONFUSION.  I WOULD BE LONELY AND MISERABLE.  I WOULD BE LIVING A LIFE OF DISTRUCTION.  I WOULD HAVE A HEART FULL OF HATE AND ANGER.  JEALOUSY AND ENVY WOULD FOLLOW ME IN EVERY DIRECTION.  CHAOS WOULD BE MY BEST FRIEND.  I WOULD BE WEARING A BADGE OF SELF PITY.  LIES WOULD RUSH THROUGH MY VEINS.  I WOULD BE NOTHING MORE THAN A RACK OF DRY BONES.  I WOULD BE HEADED DOWN THE ROAD LEADING STRAIGHT TO THE PITS OF HELL.

I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU ALL OF THESE THINGS.  I HAVE NO REASON TO HIDE ANY OF THIS.  IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW I AM TELLING THE TRUTH.  AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, DETAILS ARE NOT IMPORTANT.  THATS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.  I REALLY WAS LOST AND MISERABLE.  MY PAST CLEARLY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. 

OH, BUT MY LIFE IS SO DIFFERENT TODAY!  BUT ONLY THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD!  HE PICKED ME UP WHEN I WAS AT MY LOWEST.  HE ALLOWED ME TO SEE THAT I HAD BEEN FOOLED BY THE DEVIL FOR WAY TOO LONG.  MY HEAVENLY FATHER CLEARED THE DOUBT AND CONFUSION FROM MY MIND.  HE TOOK THE JEALOUSY AND ENVY OUT OF MY HEART.  HE REMOVED THE CURSES FROM MY LIPS AND TAUGHT ME TO CONTROL MY TONGUE.  THE CHAOS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MY BLOOD STREAM AND MY DRY BONES HAVE COME BACK TO LIFE. 

I ALWAYS HEARD OF PEOPLE MAKING A SUDDEN TRANSFORMATION AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.  I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE SO COMPLETELY CHANGED.  THE CHANGES IN ME DIDNT TAKE PLACE OVER NIGHT.  I DIDNT WAKE UP ONE MORNING WITH A WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE.  I SAW WHERE I WAS LIVING DESTRUCTIVELY.  I SAW THAT I NEEDED THE LORD.  I WENT DOWN TO THE ALTARS COUNTLESS TIMES.  I SPOKE TO GOD AS I WOULD TO A TRUSTED FRIEND.  I REALIZED THAT HIS WAY IS THE ONLY WAY.  I LEARNED THAT THIS WORLD HOLDS ONLY MISERY AND HEARTACHE.  I ASKED FOR HIS FORGIVENESS WITH AN HONEST HEART.  GOD KNOWS WHEN WE ARE SINCERE.  HE GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS.  I WAS BAPTIZED BY BOTH WATER AND BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT.  THATS WHEN MY OUTLOOK ON LIFE TRANSFORMED!!!!

OUR GOD IS REAL!  HIS BLESSINGS ARE COUNTLESS!  HIS LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL! 
I REALIZE ALL OF THIS TODAY.  I AM SO THANKFUL HIS PROMISES.  I AM SO GLAD HE MADE ME REALIZE JUST EXACTLY...WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY......
I AM GRATEFUL THIS MORNING.  GRATEFUL FOR MANY MANY THINGS.  BUT I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY AND HIS LOVE!!!!  HE PROMISED US ALL OF THESE THINGS.  NOT JUST TO ME, BUT TO YOU AS WELL.  IF HE DID IT FOR ME, HE CAN AND HE WILL SURELY DO IT FOR YOU.  HE LOVES US ALL EQUALLY. 
OUR NEXT CHURCH SERVICE IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7 AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH HERE IN OAKDALE.  JESUS WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU AT THE ALTARS.  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

IT HAS BEEN A BLESSED ADVENTURE!