Held In Fear . . . .
In my mid twenties I met several very nice people who were always friendly, polite, courteous and hospitable. The years went by and I got to like them even though I couldn’t really figure out what made them "tick." Eventually they invited me to their Gospel meetings and eventually I accepted their offer and I met more and more of the friends. Their workers dropped in to my house to visit with me on a weekly basis and I continued going to their Gospel meetings. I felt accepted by these quiet unassuming people. And one day I professed. I accepted God into my life—or so I thought!
Once on the "inside" I saw and heard a different scenario . I began to understand that these people believed they were in God’s ONLY TRUE WAY and the ONLY way to heaven! Gulp! What? I didn’t know they believed THAT! And now I was one of them!
And I was afraid.
I was afraid that should they be right and this WAS God’s ONLY true way I would go to a lost eternity if I ever left their group.
I kept quiet about how I felt—afraid that if they were right and I left I would suffer in hell forever. So I stayed and stayed and stayed. I waited and waited and waited for God to reveal to me, as he must have done with them, that this was His ONLY true church. I waited over a decade! I walked in their way. I waited in their way. I took on their acceptable standards. I attended all their required meetings and conventions. And I waited. And I was afraid.
They also believed their Way was "from the beginning" and had no founder but in due course I learned different. Still I was afraid and it took me another eight months to finally break from this group and from these people that I loved and, for the most part, respected. And still I was afraid until, in God’s loving kindness, He showed me what I needed to know about Himself and His Son and about His plan of Salvation.
Now I’m free at last and hold Christ as my Savior and God.
Sometimes God goes to great lengths to get our attention. For me I had to get involved in a false way before I reached a point of needing Him more than anything else in the world.
Praise Be To God, I’m Free Because Of the Sacrifice of Jesus.
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36
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- Sandi Gunther, Canada
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