09/09/2024
When I was six years of age, I was born again through electric revelatory preaching of an evangelist in a foolish little Quonset hut with about 30 people present. Poor Pentecostals. Hard working, God-fearing, tongue-talking, Jesus-loving, precious saints.
My mother, father, sisters and a brother were among those present. This evangelist was preaching on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was painting a verbal picture of the sufferings of Messiah on the cross. He came to the part where Jesus looked upon those who crucified Him and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
I was literally in a hypnotic state. This preacher was so anointed that I was paralyzed. I could sense the sufferings of Jesus and His great love that would compel Him to willingly lay down His life for me. As he spoke of His decree of forgiveness, I had tears running down my cheeks, and suddenly was at the foot of the cross. It was as though I was translated through time, back to the very moment of His sufferings. As a little six-year old boy, I was so sorry that I had crucified the Son of God by my sins.
I suddenly was looking at Jesus hanging on the cross in all of His suffering and agony, blood flowing from His nail-pierced body, he was covered with agony. Blood was all over Him. And He looked at me, and I heard the words, "Father, forgive him, for he doesn't know what he's done." I wasn't aware of any great amount of sins that I had committed. I was only aware of this Jesus who was so real that I could literally see Him with open eyes. I knew His love for me, and I knew He had died in my place. No matter what I had done or would do. His blood was cleansing my sin. In a matter of seconds of looking into His eyes, that little six-year-old boy fell in love with Jesus, and made the decision that no matter what happened in my life He would be my hero, my Lord and my Savior.
Then, suddenly He was gone, and I was sitting there weeping and crying out loud. Without an invitation from the evangelist, I jumped off the front row, and literally threw myself on the prayer bench (also known as an altar). I stayed there for a long time until everyone was gone, and my mother, who was next to me, and a precious saint named Ruby Hix put their arms around me and helped me up and said, "Let's go home."
I had had an encounter with the Christ of Calvary...
I became a prodigal at age 13. In February of 1974, Jesus invaded my life, and I couldn't say no any longer. Fifteen wasted years! I couldn't believe that I had been robbed of the things I was now experiencing. During those years, the Holy Spirit continued to reveal the Son of God to me in many wonderful ways. Little did I realize that two years later from my turning from the pigpen, He would once again show Himself unto me as the Christ of glory, the resurrected Son of God...
-from Chapter 1 of my new book, Face to Face in His Glory, available now on Amazon!
Face to Face in His Glory: Caught Up Before the Resurrected, Glorified Christ