Autumn, for all its blatant beauty, brings an inherent mood of melancholy. For many of us, this autumn–with its ever-growing evidence of our nation’s decay–is especially poignant. The world in which we were raised and the values we cherish have been ripped apart and scattered to the autumn wind.
For me, disillusionment over what America was becoming proved to be one of the steps God used, to lead me to trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross for salvation. It was late in the 1960s, when the climate of the Vietnam War led me to realize that I could no longer idolize my country. I could no longer look to political leaders for hope and encouragement.
Obviously, God works on all levels. As He peeled away my faith in human government, He worked on a far deeper level–stripping me of all confidence in myself. Then He went to work on what had always been my foremost “idol”–my family.
The daily strain of raising a large family undermined my belief that the family was the ultimate source of all happiness, contentment, and joy. We did have joy, but there were terrific tensions and conflicts as well. Deep inside, I seethed with anger over things I could not change or control.
I realized that there simply had to be SOMETHING MORE! I thought that my quest for “something more” was a personal search for inner peace and tranquility. I read and analyzed many of the world’s philosophies and religions, in pursuit of serenity in the midst of chaos.
I delved into the ancient Eastern religions, thinking I could glean some age-old wisdom from them. With every turn of research, I ran into an unyielding wall. Yes peace was offered by these worldviews, and a life-attitude of stoic acceptance regarding the outside world.
But I knew that some things in the outside world could never be accepted. And nothing that I read or observed about the Eastern religions could help me accept the world within me–that “world” which I personally knew to be a tempest of anger and daily frustration. Calm and serene on the outside, always doing whatever needed to be done, I was a totally depressed mess in my inner soul.
In the search (which I later realized was not me searching, but God drawing me) I examined the claims of Christianity. I remember erroneously thinking, “That’s nice, but how irresponsible to think that another person could die for my sins. My sins are my responsibility!”
Finally, the day arrived when I realized I could never begin to deal with the sin and tumult inside me. I could not change myself! There was no eternal hope in my human frame. I recall one morning in 1971 when I told my husband, “Something is MISSING from my life”.
The very next day, I knew what was missing. I visited a church where the Gospel was powerfully, cogently presented. The lights went on in my mind. As I left the church that morning, I recall shaking the astounded pastor’s hand and saying in a loud, definitive voice, “It’s TRUE! I AM a sinner and I DO need salvation. And Jesus Christ is my Saviour.”
Since that day in 1971, I have never looked back. Jesus Christ is Lord. When we belong to Him, He holds our future in His all-powerful hands. As the storm clouds gather in our nation and around the world, we know that He is in control. He will equip His believers with whatever is needed to weather the storm.
As our nation and its values are crumbling, we look up with confidence. Once we have trusted Christ for salvation we have the answers to life, revealed in Scripture.
As the Lord Jesus Christ has promised in His Word, He will return to reign on earth as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! He will establish peace and justice on earth. He is the ANSWER!
Margaret L. Been–All Rights Reserved