To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.  – Acts 1:3

This had to be the ultimate of all evidence.  I can’t imagine seeing with my own eyes Christ die on the cross and be taken away to the tomb.  I can’t imagine how sad I would be if I had been one of those who walked with Him.  What would I think on that third day when they told me the tomb was empty?  What would I think when people started telling me they had seen Him?  Would I doubt them?  Or would I pray that somehow someway He would allow me to see Him for myself?  

We are in a similar situation today.  We have all heard of God doing great and miraculous things in and through other people.  We have heard of God revealing Himself to others in just the coolest of ways.  When I first heard of God really revealing Himself to people in today’s time, I remember first thinking that He would never do it for me.  I thought there was no way He would ever show up for a nobody like me.  Then, one day, I asked Him to.  Within days, His Spirit filled my 1991 Ford Ranger pickup truck, and I was sob crying for the first time in my life in the presence of God.  I knew that He still showed up for people today.

I don’t know what happened in 2021.  I kept pretty much all my resolutions.  I was close to the Lord.  I was in probably the best shape of my life physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Then, one day, I got sick.  I didn’t get the v-word that shall not be named, but I had this cough which seemed to last for weeks and weeks that turned into months.  I had no motivation to eat right.  I felt weak so quickly when I would even try to exercise.  When I would read and pray, it felt too often like such a duty.  I hated feeling like that.

Right after Christmas, I prayed for some things.  I asked for the Lord to help us as a family find a place where my kids enjoyed going to church.   I asked for evidence that they were growing in the Lord.  I asked for people to be placed in my life that I could help grow spiritually.  I asked for my heart and mind to be purified.  I asked to stop caring about many worthless worldly things that I know will not last forever.  For the past 19 days I have not let up.  Let me tell you just how good and gracious God is when you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.  

The very next day after my wife and I prayed together, one of my young ones woke up and said, “Dad, can we read a Bible story?”  I could not help but smile in my lit-up spirit as we talked of King Solomon’s mistakes that drew him away from God.  When we were out of town, my wife and I invited the kids to join us in attending a random church service.  One of them said, “If we were going to Open Door back home, I’d go.”  We have been attending Open Door Baptist Church for two months now and my kids love it.  I have grown in knowledge.  I have grown in closeness with the Lord.  I even have a small group of people that God is allowing me to lead spiritually.  One of them went to church with us this past Sunday.  What else could I possibly ask for?  The evidence is all around me that the Lord still works today.

Lord, I look so forward to the day when my faith becomes sight.  All I can ask for is help.  I know that the Christian life is only lived because You are doing the work.  Work in me.  Work on me.  Help me become a finished and completely restored product.  On the day I draw my last breath, may I hear those words that every person who has ever followed You longs to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Amen