One important difference

My brother called me one time and he was as down as I ever saw him. He was at the end of his third marriage, his kids lives were a mess, drugs, alcohol, and all that goes with it did not help a bit, his job was not going well and his boss disliked him intensely; he was miserable and his life was a disaster. By contrast my life was very good. My wife and I were happy and our marriage was into its thirtieth year, my kids had college degrees, were very happy with tons of friends, my job was going great and I was very happy and optimistic about life. He called and told me that he did not understand it. We had the same parents and same life growing up yet he was in his condition and I was in mine.

I told him that there was only one difference between us, albeit it was a big difference. I had God in my life and he did not. Thirty years prior, I had been in his position myself and I asked God to come into my life and my life was miraculously changed for the better. I asked my brother to come to Atlanta and spend some time with me. He accepted. I took him to see my pastor, shared my testimony with him, prayed with him, and got him a brand new Bible. I watched him get down on his knees with tears in his eyes and wonderfully accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior. He went back to New Orleans and reunited with his wife. He led her and his son to the Lord. They were all baptized on the same day and joined the church. He apologized to his boss for his behavior and his boss accepted it and they began working together closely as friends. He bought his dream house in the suburbs. His kids began to spend a tremendous amount of time with him. His life turned around 180 degrees and was miraculously changed and for the first time since he could remember he was enjoying life.

I wish I could say that this story ended this way. Over the next couple of years he started drifting away from God, he started missing going to church, he quit reading his Bible and was pretty much ignoring God. I talked with him by phone and reminded him of his prior situation and that God had delivered him from it. I lovingly but sternly warned him against turning his back on God. He agreed with me, but unfortunately continued down the slippery and dangerous slope of rebellion against Gods laws. He committed suicide shortly thereafter.

Words cannot adequately describe how saddened I am by his death. It is still nearly unbearable to think of it and I miss him very much. It seems so unnecessary, yet it is my hope that by hearing it others might learn from it. This tragedy could EASILY have been prevented if my brother had elected to continue to follow the Lord and lead his family down the same path. True happiness only comes from God and is enjoyed only by those who stay close to him.

Are you ignoring God? Did you attend church yesterday? Read your Bible this morning? Pray that God would be with you today as you face the world? If not, I ask you just as I asked my brother to redouble your efforts….

Job 28:28

Behold, the fear of the Lord

that is wisdom,

And to depart from evil is

understanding.

____________________________

How well do you know the Bible?

You shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh if you will ______________?

Fill in the blank…

Galatians

5:16

http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible

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