Is the Lord Real to You?

I know that we often talk about who Jesus is and we know He is God’s son and our way to eternal life. But have you experienced Him for yourself. I know that like me, you probably study your bible and learn more about Him and who He is, but is He real to you? Have you had experiences where you know it was Him? 

I have felt Him when I praise and I have been comforted by the Holy Spirit in times of distress and convicted by the Holy Spirit when I’ve stepped out of line (John 14:26), but I’ve also had experiences where I knew it was Him intervening on my behalf. I can remember an experience I had with the Lord many years ago that sticks with me and reminds me that He is always with me (Deut 31:6). 

I was traveling to my parents at Thanksgiving and I was having a great drive. I was driving alone and had been praying and praising for hours on the road – just me and the Lord. When I was about 45 minutes from my destination, I saw something flying at me on the road and I knew it would hit my car. The last thing I remember thinking before it hit me was whether it would put a dent in my hood. Little did I know, it would do a bit more damage than that. 

“It” was an at least 18 inch piece of metal that had broken off of an 18-wheeler. It slammed into the hood, putting a hole in it, before it came through the windshield in front of my face. I remember closing my eyes so I didn’t see the piece of metal come into the car, but I felt the car slam down and then heard the metal come through the window and hit the roof of the car as if flew over my head. 

When I was able to get to the side of the road and the paramedics arrived, they were surprised that I wasn’t hurt since the metal bent the door, dented the roof, and tore out all the lining over my head. It was a miracle, because that metal should have hit me, but God! He had me that day, just as he does every day, but that day was special because after it was all over I could see where His hand had covered me. 

I should be dead, but here I sit. The Lord is real and I experienced Him for myself – just like the woman at the well (John 4:1-25) and the lame man at the pool (John 5:1-15). He saved my life and I know without a shadow of a doubt that He is real. You may not have had a similar experience but if you get into His presence you can still experience Him. And when you experience Him, tell someone. 

We are to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) – telling people about Him wherever we go. We don’t have to know all the scriptures to tell someone about Jesus – tell them what you do know. I know that Jesus saved me – both spiritually and physically. He is a protector (which I experienced in that car) and He is a provider. That car was totaled, but multiple people in my life offered me the use of cars until I bought one. There is no way to the Father except through the Son – Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6). Don’t let the busyness of life distract you from the very real Lord who we serve. 

Our primary purpose is to love God with all our heat, soul and mind and love others as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). If we do that we want others around us to realize just how real He is so they too can be part of our family – the church. If He is real to you, tell somebody. Don’t keep it to yourself.