A Huge Weight Lifted
Eager to hear how this could be, Joe took me to Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 and other verses that said the death of Jesus on the cross was for my sins if I would believe and accept this. I prayed to receive Jesus as my Savior and immediately felt immense joy and relief! It was as though a huge weight had been lifted from me and I was free from the guilt and penalty of my sins! I was so happy that I felt like I could have floated around the cab of the truck we were in, if it wasn't for my seat belt!
In the days that followed I read my New Testament intensively because I was hungry to know what it said. Diane and Mindy came to visit me in New Orleans and, at the end of the first day together, Diane said, "There is something different about you. You have changed and are no longer the same person I married." I tried to explain to her that I had experience a spiritual birth and was a new creature in Christ but she did not understand.
Over the course of the next several months we experienced extreme spiritual warfare. At night the tension in the bedroom was so thick it was like static electricity. I was determined that I was not going to deny the reality of what had happened to me nor fail to pursue my love for Jesus even if it cost me my wife and everything else I cherished.
During this time, we alternated going to Joe's Bible church and our old church. At the old church, I hit an all time low as we were cloistered in a sound proof room at the back of the church with other parents with babies. It reminded me of the place in the Bible where it says there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The babies did the wailing and the parents did the teeth gnashing!
An Invitation
When we went to the Bible church there was always an invitation at the end of the service to accept Christ. I would pray, "This is the time Lord. Open her eyes and let her accept you as I have!" However, nothing happened until one Sunday when a guest evangelist spoke at the Bible church. Before the invitation was given, Diane went forward to accept Christ! I was flabbergasted and prayed, "Wait a minute Lord! I haven't even started praying yet!"
Both of our children accepted Christ and are now adults. I became a grandpa on Valentine's Day 2005 with the birth of Dylan. I pray for his salvation regularly.
My understanding of the Bible grew rapidly as I was mentored by Joe and other Christians in a neighborhood group. I have come to realize the fundamental importance of daily Bible study to interact with God and receive revealed truths. I have also come to realize that most people in America were like me. While Bibles are available, they are not systematically studied by most Christians. The familiar Bible stories like the birth, miracles and death of Jesus are told in most churches. In addition, certain denominational beliefs are taught and generally accepted without being examined by a careful study of scripture.
There is a spiritual laziness that comes from being spoon fed rather than searching the scriptures to encounter the living God. It is this concern that has led me to write Truth Seeker: Straight Talk From The Bible. This book provides a concise summary of what the Bible says on many theological and practical living subjects. This book is not a substitute for individual study of the Bible. It is my hope and prayer that this book will convince readers of the vast amount of wisdom and truth in the Bible and inspire those who read it to diligently search for God and His truths!
Also by Warren Mueller:
• Overcoming Anxiety
• The Passion of Christ
• Why Go to Church?
• A Full & Meaningful Life
Warren Mueller, a guest contributor for About.com, has written two books and several articles since starting his writing endeavors on Christmas Eve of 2002. He believes there is no substitute for searching the Bible to better know God and walk in his ways. To contact him or for more information, visit Warren's Bio Page.
