Seeking God:

My Life through the Years

Part 17

Now, as we proceed, at the end of my last installment, God had given me work; He had given me a rental place in which to stay; and He had given me health. God was so good!

You may notice that I was seeking to do everything “right”—but even in this I failed and needed to repent. In other words, I sought to wake up at a certain time (when I thought this was wise). I sought to eat when I should and wanted to eat only that which was nutritious. I wanted to drink at the best time. I even wanted to dress in a certain way—economically and modestly. I tried to drive as little as possible—to save on care expense and gasoline.

Of course, I tried to speak the right things and refrain from wrong things. I wanted to give regularly as much as possible to the work of the Lord. I tried to memorize, review and meditate on Scripture as much as I could. I could go on. I realize that some many say that I was too punctilious and careful—but this is what I thought would please God.

One day, on my way to work, I was on the Interstate at one of the most dangerous places (the interstate was going north-south and it was going over another freeway east to west). I then encountered road construction at this very place and this meant that I had to stop the car. However, behind me was traffic, including a driver who either must not have seen the roadblock or didn’t care. While I was stopped, this driver continued to come full speed behind me. I could see this and braced myself for impact.

At the last moment, this driver must have recognized what was before him, then he swerved to the right but this was over the freeway that I mentioned earlier. He hit the back of my car and the car in front of me, then he came to an abrupt stop. I was slammed to the left and came to a stop. It could have been disastrous had this happened.  I opened the right door, shook myself, and saw that I was healthy and fine. I looked at the back of my wrecked car and found the sign I had placed there: God loves you! Yes, He did.

I had to walk to work then tried to determine what to do. I decided to buy a used compact car which I used for many years. Thanks be to God! Now let me continue. I should have mentioned that around this time I changed my diet again—for the better. I recall sitting in a Chevrolet dealer’s waiting room while I had my car worked on and I was reading a new book that had recently been released—The Pritikin Program of Diet and Exercise. This book was revolutionary. Page by page it addressed me and showed that I should be eating better and differently—as well as exercising consistently.

I’ve always (since my childhood, I suppose) had an interest in doing God’s will regardless of the cost. This carried over into many different areas. I tried to dress differently (no flashy clothes, no strange clothes, no immodest clothes). I tried to drive differently (no speeding, etc.). I tried to eat differently (no “junk” foods, no non-nutritious foods). I tried to eat well (nutritious foods and no tasty but foods that served no useful purpose). I tried to keep myself from wicked things, such as television (I had renounced TV when I was about 17 or so). I had tried to be careful with my spending (such as no unnecessary driving).

I even tried to be careful with my sleeping. Later a friend had given me a book written by an African preacher (she was a “Jesus only” Pentecostal). The author claimed that if we were to sleep an hour less each day, this would be 365 extra hours a year—for the Lord! And if we were to sleep 2 hours less each night, this would be 730 extra hours a day to devote for the Lord. I tried to do this but, of course, I grew more and more sleepy during the day! More recently, in my studies, I have learned that at least a little more sleep can be for our good, though I suppose I still sleep only about six hours a night.

All of this was an effort to apply Paul’s words to my life: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Thus, although I may have failed to some extent, I sought to apply this principle to my life regarding what I saw, what I said, what I read, what I did, where I went, and so forth.

I sought to do things methodically. Once I read the biography of John Wesley and he did things so “methodically” that his followers were called “Methodists”! Thus, I would wash my clothes on certain days in a certain way. I would have my car worked on at just the right time. I would seek to read and write at the right time and in the right way. I wasn’t following John Wesley but this seemed to be the godly way of acting.

As I mentioned, I had lost my dwelling house but found an empty or deserted house during my morning run. I don’t know what I would have done if God had not provided this! Thus, I moved in after the large process of transferring my books and other things to this empty house. It was somewhat difficult and I needed to pay people to move the things. Finally, everything was at the empty house and I placed everything where it needed to go. Although it was very hot during the summer, still this was better than sleeping under a bridge!

I wasted no time mailing things out to people as I had the time. I continued with the job that I had, which kept me busy from early afternoon until nighttime. I recall coming “home” one night and walked in the dark to a small park nearby where there was railroad tracks. I sought the Lord’s help and direction for I was feeling unsettled in many ways. Where was all of this taking me?

The next time, we will see where God was taking me and how this would work.