I’ve been a rock solid atheist for 52 years. I was smart enough to know that there is no such thing as God and that the miracles of Jesus were just stories from the world’s greatest science fiction novel. I always thought of Christians as ignorant, superstitious, weak-minded people that needed a god to deal with the fact that they are going to die. I never sought God or had any desire to be a Christian.
Four years ago, my atheist little brother was ejected from his bicycle over the side of a bridge and would have fallen to his death, but didn’t. He told me that he tried to grab the rail of the bridge as he flew past it, but it was beyond his reach. He told me an angel grabbed his wrists and lifted him up to the side of the bridge and he was able to climb up. He became a Christian that day and tried to convince me. I told him that didn’t happen, his mind was playing tricks on him. I couldn’t understand how a man with a BA in microbiology, an MA in molecular biology and a graduate of LSU Medical school could believe in something as silly as God. No amount of preaching or testimony could ever convince me I was wrong.
This past mother’s day my wife wanted me to go to church with her. I did, but I hated church. I didn’t believe in anything there and felt like a hypocrite. It was a waste of my time; Sundays were for fishing and hunting as far as I was concerned.
Toward the end of the service, I was thinking about which of my fishing reels needed fresh line on them when the pastor said, “Give your cowgirl the greatest gift she’ll never forget and give your life to Jesus Christ!” (We were at a cowboy church.) As swiftly as being stuck by lightning, instantly and simultaneously, the following things happened to me. I was overcome by the most powerful wave of emotion I’ve ever felt. I began to cry even though I was fighting it hard. I felt the most incredible and peaceful sense of safety and security as though I had no care in the world–probably how a small child feels being held by his mother. Everything that I knew all of my life to be fact concerning God and religion was mysteriously gone and replaced by 1) Jesus is Lord and 2) everything I need to know about living is in the Bible.
In literally a fraction of second I went from atheist to believer. Even though I knew nothing about Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit, I knew immediately that I was experiencing an unsolicited supernatural encounter, that I do have a soul and that it was saved. God proved his existence to me when I wasn’t even looking. I was not “at rock bottom” and couldn’t have been more indifferent about it which made it all the more compelling.
After church I texted my brother “I’ve been saved, no S–t!” He immediately called and was ecstatic. He said, “You’ve been touched by the Holy Spirit” and “what happened to you is inconceivable to non-believers.” He’s right since I wouldn’t have believed it had it not happened to me.
Since I’ve been shown THE TRUTH, and being no fool, I’ve given control of my life to Jesus Christ.
Praise God! This is the way I felt too when I went to see “God’s Not Dead” when it came out in theatres. I received a random spam mail and opened it. Something made me want to see it. While I said I believed, I was living a different lifestyle, and had no relationship with God, so therefore now I look back, I really didn’t believe. After that movie, I was overcome with sadness and sorry for things I had done and way I lived and cried in the car all the way home. I will never forget it.
Very very happy for you!!! Your testimony will have an impact because there is nothing the Lord sends out that will return to Him void. Welcome to the family of Jesus Christ! We are so happy to have you as one of our own!
This story is entirely possible and has happened to other people before. On page 242 of “Miracles” by Eric Metaxas, he tells the story of a personal friend who was physically saved by an angel after stupidly vaulting over a fence without looking to see what was on the other side. The other side was a cliff, but she was carried back to the other side. Eric only included miracle testimonies from people he knew personally.
The late Bob Passantino told me of one of his best friends was converted just like the atheist: the Holy Spirit suddenly brought intense conviction of the Gospel and saving faith, without any warning or preparation. God does as He pleases, so He will receive all the glory!