Changed!

     As an atheist walked through the green forest he smiled at the beauty that surrounded him and said, “Wow, the powers of evolution have created such amazing natural wonders!”  Just about then he heard some rustling nearby.  Curiously he went to investigate when a huge black grizzly bear came tearing down the path toward him.  The man took off like a shot and looking behind him he saw that the bear was gaining on him.  He tried with all his might to pick up the pace, but he tripped and came crashing to the ground.  As he tried to get up, the bear jumped on him and lifted up one large paw to whack him.  The atheist screamed out, “Oh my God!!” 
     Suddenly, time stopped, the bear froze, and everything went silent.  A bright light shined upon the man, a voice thundered from heaven, “You deny My existence, tell others that I don’t exist, and even credit My creation to some cosmic explosion.  Do you expect Me to help you out of this trouble?  Am I supposed to consider you to be a believer when you have denied me for all this time?” 
     The atheist looked directly into the light and earnestly pleaded, “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask God to treat me as a believer now, but could You possibly make the bear a Christian?”  “Sure, I can do that,” the voice said.  The light went and the sounds and sights of the forest resumed.  The bear looked delightedly into the eyes of the man, dropped his powerful paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head in prayer and spoke, “Father, for this food that I am about to receive, I am truly thankful.” 
     So now the question is: Can a sinner be turned into a saint and can a twisted life be made right and can an unbeliever become a believer?  There is only one answer: “Oh Lord, only You know!  With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 
     Oswald Chambers says, “When a man is born again, (changed by the Spirit of God) there is not the same robustness in his thinking or reasoning for a time formerly. We have to make an expression of the new life, to form the mind of Christ. Many prefer to stay at the threshold of the Christian life instead of going on to construct a soul in accordance with the new life God has put within.  We fail because we are ignorant of the way we are made; we put things down to the devil instead of our own undisciplined natures.  Think what we can be when we are roused!” 
     It is never too late to change, as long as there is breath in our lungs.  It is never too late to call upon God, as long as we have a sound mind.  The Word of God speaks volumes: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).  It is only natural that who we hang out with is who we are influenced by, so by hanging with the Lord we are changed into a new creation, created by Him.  For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com.

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