 |
Finding Freedom
By Mark Mirek
 |
| Mark and Diane |
With midnight approaching on September 20, 1972, four young friends lounged around the well-worn living room of a house near the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Diana was beginning her senior year in the Speech/Language Pathology program. Linda had shared the rental since the previous spring. Ken was Linda’s boyfriend. He was a few years older and had already experienced a marriage and divorce. Raised in a loving Christian family and a student of prophecy since his teens, Ken was now living the hedonistic lifestyle of his companions.
I completed the foursome. I had just completed my bachelor’s degree back in my hometown of Chicago and moved to Cincinnati to be with my girlfriend, Diana. My father was a Chicago police officer which is probably the secular equivalent of being a preacher’s son. I was committed to declaring my independence by living in open disregard for the laws of the land and wishes of my parents. Though my family influences were politically conservative and nominally Christian, five years of secular college, the atmosphere of the 1960s and my own rebellious nature created an atheistic anarchist with no respect for God or man.
The devil had these four hippies exactly where he wanted them. However, he was about to be blindsided by a heavenly assault of mercy, grace and truth. We had just watched the 11 p.m. news with its litany of political chaos, nuclear threats, environmental disasters and economic crises. Someone turned off the TV and put on some music. Linda said she was tired and went to bed. (Sadly, she would miss the experience that followed.) I turned to Ken—who, while living the same lifestyle, was still a Nixon conservative politically—and asked a question: “How can you be so interested in making money when it’s obvious this world is about to fall apart?” For the next twenty minutes I preached Ken a sermon about the end of the world. He had heard this stuff a hundred times but never from someone who neither believed in God nor His word.
A moment of truth
After a moment of silence, Ken responded with a simple statement, “If there’s any answer, it’s in the Bible.” When we stopped laughing, he continued, “I don’t know what I believe, but I’ll tell you what the Bible says.” And for the next four hours he opened the plan of salvation to us. The entire presentation was captivating and clear in a way Ken had never heard it before, and we have never heard it since. Our hearts were won. Still our intellects threw up some final objections.
I do not know if we slept at all that morning. I do remember Diana and I went out as soon as the stores opened and bought each other Bibles. Although I was happier than I had ever been, my stated purpose was “to prove Ken wrong.” My plan was to begin on page one and read until I had confirmed that the Bible was only a bunch of myths and fables. I started that day and before I was halfway through Genesis realized I was reading history and truth. While reading fom Genesis to Revelation I kept a small notebook where I listed questions and insights on Bible verses. When I was done I discovered I had the truth in that little book.
One week later, in that same living room, Ken watched as Diana and I quietly searched the Scriptures frequently interrupting each other to share some new discovery. He stepped out to the porch and breathed the night air. Watching the flow of traffic, he felt a weight pressing on his heart. The truth of the Bible, the reality of God’s love and a sense of his own guilt weighed heavier and heavier on his mind. His thoughts turned to how few people knew what was really happening in the world and the crisis just ahead. Few knew and fewer were prepared. Ken knew—yet was unprepared. He returned to the living room where a song about searching for a “lost chord” was playing and dropped into a chair. It dawned on his troubled mind that he had found what everyone was looking for: not just answers but a Person. Yet he still felt lost—desperately lost. Then his mind was invaded by a vision of Christ on the cross. His look—without words—said everything. “Trust Me.” Suddenly Ken cried out, “Jesus, save me!” And a moment later, “Jesus, save me!” Then tears ran from his eyes and a look of heavenly peace transformed his face.
Now Ken was converted. He knew he loved Jesus. He knew he believed the Bible. Patiently Ken sat back and watched the Spirit lead the rest of us into all truth just as Jesus promised.
As we grew in Christ we found for ourselves that things like alcohol and drugs hindered our Bible study. Besides who wants a foggy mind when searching for reality? “Coincidentally” just a few weeks before our adventure started, Diana and I were experimenting with vegetarianism. Our experience led us to conclude that we felt better and saved money by eating a simple vegetarian diet.
A home with God's family
Finally, it was time to find a church. We fellowshipped in several churches. We enjoyed them all, but something was missing. One evening Ken asked if we would like to visit His church. We said sure. The next morning we drove a long and winding road to a little church in the hills near Germantown, Ohio. We were cheerfully ushered in just as worship was beginning. The music was wonderful, the sermon filled with truth and, most of all, the people embraced us as if we were their own children returning home. Three families invited us home for dinner. I should mention all of us were in our bellbottom jeans, and mine were more patch than jean. My hair was in a ponytail to the middle of my back, and Ken’s was a black bush with a fine beard beneath. The pastor was absent that week and everyone insisted that we come back next week to meet him. Not one member mentioned our hippy-ness—only that these three young people loved Jesus. Jesus had truly won our hearts!
Today Ken is a church leader in southern California and an encouragement to many. Diana and I were married and have two lovely girls and two amazing grandchildren. Diana is a Speech/Language Pathologist in the public schools, and I have taught in Christian schools for 30 years. And we are all still excited about this Jesus who won our hearts and changed our lives.
______________________________
|
|
 |
|
 |
Personal Growth
Answers For Me
Bible Bay
Bibleinfo.com
Discover
Study Guides
GraceNotes
It Is Written
ScripShot
Story Songs
Image Gallery
Story Videos
|
 |
