©2001 Charles Darby
When I was 9 years old I lost my left leg in a hunting accident. I almost bled to death; took lockjaw, had my leg amputated twice because gangrene set up in it the first time. It was in God's will for me to live.
After my wife and I married we joined the church, was baptized in water. I went down a dry sinner and came up a wet sinner! No real repentance took place. No changed life, no receiving Jesus into my heart. I tried real hard for several weeks to live a Christian life but I could not. I soon gave up. You can't live it without Christ. I didn't know that at the time.
I attended church from time to time, measured myself by others and came out as good as most, that is in my own eyes.
One day on Interstate 20 (USA) my car went out of control and turned around 3 times before I could get it under control. I thought about my life for a short while then forgot about it.
One day while hunting in South Georgia (USA) I was shot in my left shoulder and neck. The shot missed my jugular vein about 1/4 inch. If it had hit the vein I would have died in the woods. For a man who has never been in service, I had now been shot twice and survived it! I thought about repenting but again I did not.
The last day of January, 1970, I was again hunting in South Georgia. When we returned to the ranger station, where we left from, they told me someone from home was trying to call me. I called home and was told my youngest daughter (age 16) had been in an auto accident. If I wanted to see her alive I would need to hurry home!
Now I came face to face with reality. I realized I had been running from God for many years. I was through running, now I was ready to repent! A friend of mine drove me to a Cobb County, Georgia Hospital (USA); on the way home I got in the back seat of the car and gave my life to Jesus Christ.
I prayed this simple prayer. Jesus you know I tried once to live for you, but I could not. Now if you will forgive me for how I have lived, come into my heart, show me how you want me to live, give me your strength to live it and I will do it. He did and for the first time in my life I was at peace with God, myself and everyone else. I was never at peace inside before!
I would that I could tell you my Debbie lived, but she went to be with Jesus after 15 days. I could not, in my grief, see any good coming out of her death. Now I can. At the time she was the only one in the family ready to go home. Now all the family has met Jesus as their Saviour! Many, many others have also come to know the Lord as a result.
After the funeral I was baptized in water again and rejoined the church. Later I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire.
I'm ashamed it took this to bring me to a saving knowledge of The Lord. Thank God He loved my family and I enough to not give up on us.
Let me urge you, no matter what has happened in your life, let Jesus have control. He loves you more than we can love ourselves. This is what I was looking for all my life. Why did I wait so long?
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