How to repair your relationship with God

Select the sentence which best describes your life

"I am not sure what my relationship with God is."

"I know I am a Christian but there is something blocking the relationship between myself and God."

It was the 60's. I was a very confused college freshman over a thousand miles from home.

I didn't think it would be like this. The transition from my cosy high-school classes to large auditorium lectures was difficult. Working a part-time job and studying until midnight in a lonely boarding-house was the pits.

Then, there was always the threat of bad grades causing me to lose my draft deferment, which meant a quick trip to Viet-Nam.

In the midst of all this, God sent a humble janitor into my life. He was a smallish, older man with a gentle spirit. His name was Roy.

One night, while I was sweeping the hallways, Roy walked up to me and said it was time to take a break. As we talked he began to cry softly to himself. I was kind of freaked out and asked him if everything was okay.

With such a look of love on his face he looked right at me and said, "Jim, Jesus told me to talk to you tonight."

With tears flowing down his cheeks he began to tell me that Jesus Christ was a real person who purposely took the punishment for my sins on the cross.

I told Roy that I was sure Jesus had more important things to do than to worry about how I was doing.

I was bluffing because I figured Roy had to be some kind of religious nut. I told him I'd think about what he said and thanked him for his concern for me.

The truth was, that I had never seen anyone that concerned over someone else before. On my walk to the boarding-house I wondered, “How I could know if this was real?”

Would you believe that I had a package from an old acquaintance waiting for me when I got there? You would be as amazed as I was if you opened the package and found a booklet called, How to be a Christian Without Being Religious. I stayed up late that night and read the whole book.

The letter that came in the package had some interesting quotes from the Bible that I had never heard before.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

We’ve all broken at least ONE of the Ten Commandments.

But YOUR iniquities HAVE SEPARATED between you and YOUR God, and YOUR SINS HAVE hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

Sounds hopeless but there’s good news...

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

So there is no use saying, “I’m not good enough.” He already knows that and gave His life for me anyway.

My next problem was, “But still, how can I know if these things are true?

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

O.K., if this is all true, then what should I do?

... if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

I prayed a quick prayer for the first time in many years, "God, if the things in this book are real please show me. I see now that I have broken your laws and deserve to go to hell. Please forgive me and I'll give my life to you."

I suddenly knew that He really was listening and that His presence was beginning to fill the room. I blurted out, “If this is real, then this is what I want! God I can tell You are here. I believe these things are true. Please forgive my sins and come and live inside of me.”

His power swept over me like warm electricity that washed me all the way up to the top of my head.

If any man will do his will, he shall KNOW of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
John 7:17

It is no accident that you are reading this. I've been asking God to cause someone like you to come across my path so that I can pass on what He has done for me.

Isn't it about time that you had a heart-to-heart talk with the Lord Jesus Christ? Forget about the hypocrites in the church. Forget about the lies you've been told about Jesus and Christianity. Just ask Him if these things are real. Ask Him to do the same thing for you that He did for me.

Get a copy of the Bible and start reading it! Read the book of John first. I have confidence that He will show you what is right as you seek Him and read His Word.

Take some baby steps towards Jesus and His Word and He will lead you the rest of the way!

If you ever need a friend, please contact us and let us know what God has done for you or tell us how we can pray for you.