Dear Mike,

I came across your site by accident. That is to say, I was looking up information about “Nicolaitins” and wound up spending hours pouring over your most insightful articles.

Help me out if you will. I left the church in which I grew up. I left my sisters and my brother, my mother and the rest of my family that attended “the church.” My father was a primitive baptist minister, who died at the age of 44. I was 4.

I felt that the church had no answers for the questions that I had about life. They weren’t wrong as much as incomplete.

After I left, I fell into sin (did some pretty heinous stuff). I drank constantly, ran with sordid women, spent a lot of other people’s money to prop up my ego and acted like the worst heathen. I was quite sure God was done with me on a certain level; but on a deeper level, I felt his hand on me.

Of course, my suffering was brought about by choices I made. But (here’s the weird part) it seemed what I was experiencing was a result of having volunteered for some kind of “boot camp.” It all started to end when I wrecked my F250 Ford Powerstroke. There was no reason for me to have survived (I walked away unharmed) except through divine providence. In short: I lost everything materially I’d worked for. And to this day I have nothing of which I can boast. Yet, I feel that it is for a reason other than punishment. It’s more like “I don’t get to do things that other people get to do.” I don’t get to “enjoy” the sensual pleasures that others might. God doesn’t allow that for me.

Mike, I’ve always felt that God had a purpose for me. I have always been somewhat detached and alone from people, although I am a fairly well known person in my circles. There has always been a sense of aloneness. Is it possible that God has “chosen” (above and beyond being called) for his service?

I have given up all to know God on “His” own terms.

It has been a frightening experience, because I am operating outside any church authority. Am I suffering from some Jesus complex? Is this just another burst of my own ego? Is my experience of terminal uniqueness a figment of my grandiose self- importance?

Do you have a similar experience of grace? What now?

Everything you’ve said resonates on a deep level.

I’m 39 years old with 3 kids. I’m too old to pursue something if I am not sure that it is from the True and Living God.

I hope to hear from you soon.

In His service and for His glory,

D____

Hi D____,

Thank you for sharing your story with me. Not only is it possible that God has ‘chosen’ you to rule and reign with Him in that “blessed and holy” first resurrection, but if you are sincere when you say “I have given up all to know God on “His” own terms,” then you are certainly being blessed with the opportunity to “endure to the end.”

Yes, I and anyone God has chosen will always have a story that will exactly parallel yours. The details will always differ, but the purpose and outcome will always be the same; “whom the Lord loveth He Chastens and scourgeth EVERY son whom He receiveth.” There are no exceptions. The ‘tree of Life,’ Christ, is surrounded in every direction by a flaming sword, the Word of God, which flaming fiery sword will burn out any corruptible ‘wood, hay or stubble in our lives. So don’t concern yourself with whether or not this ” Is… just another burst of my own ego?” If there is even a hint of any such thing in you or me, it will be burnt completely out.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Those who “suffer loss” miss out on the “blessed and holy” first resurrection and ruling in the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, they are saved “yet so as by [ the very same] fire” that tries “every man’s work.” In other words, the ‘fire’ of the lake of fire is the exact same fire as that we are right now being judged in.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

That is what assures me that you are one of God’s chosen. You speak in a resigned way of your sufferings. Don’t fear to ‘go it alone’ without the church. The orthodox Christian church are the “many called” of Matthew.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

I only wish that I had known at age 39 the things that are in ‘How To Scripturally Study The Scriptures.’

I hope to hear more from you again. In closing I will just repeat a verse from above just to prime you for your calling in Christ:

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Mike