The name of the person who led me to Christ was Graham Reid. He was a New Zealand surfing buddy, in a group of five or six close friends. I befriended him when I was newly married, and decided to go on a two-day surfing trip (in April of 1972) with the group. I didn’t know that Graham was a Christian. All I knew was that he was a nice guy who didn’t cuss, and had a Bible in his car.
During the first night of the trip, I read Matthew 5:27-28 and realized that I had sinned against God. Later that night Graham shared the good news of the gospel with me--that Jesus suffered in my place, to save me from my sin and the reality of Hell. At 1:30 a.m. I was born again, and came to know God.
The rest of that weekend he kept repeating the words, "Ray Comfort a Christian. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it!" The reason for his being astounded was that he knew that I was incredibly happy. I was 22 years-old with my own prospering business, my own home, a lovely wife, and the freedom to slap "Gone surfing" on the door of my surf shop, whenever I felt like it. What more could I want? But he didn’t know that I was desperately seeking truth. I didn’t know why I was alive. I could see that the whole of humanity is marking-time until death swallowed us. Life didn’t make sense.
One night I wept as I looked at my beautiful wife and realized that death could take her in a heartbeat. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I cried "Why! Why?" I didn’t think that anyone heard me that dark night, but I was heard, and my cry was answered six months later when I fell at the Savior’s feet.
I will be forever thankful for the night that my faithful friend took the time to share the gospel with me:
"I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all of my fears" (Psalm 34:4).
Pic. Taken by Graham Reid on the night of my conversion (April 25th, 1972). I am second from the left.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Forever Thankful
