"Meeting" Jesus

Recently, I was asked by a person who visited my website about a term that I normally take for granted and which I had included in my website. They indicated they were impressed about how I had "met Jesus in 1976" and wanted to know more about how I did that.

So I got to thinking, "How does one actually 'meet Jesus'?" Do you meet Him walking down Broadway? Do you meet Him sitting in the loo? Do you bump into Him in crowded airport terminal? I guess the term, "met Jesus" is a cliche of sorts. When I see - or use - this reference, I define it more as a personal relationship with God...through Jesus. When I was a mere 13, I knew I needed to make a knowledgeable decision that I cannot control my own destiny...that I may be able to have some hand in my physical life - my career, my "soul mate", my goals, etc. But I have no control over what happens to me after I die. And that only God, my Creator, held the balance of eternity...but it was me who had to choose to allow God to take control of my eternal destiny.

If I continued doing things my own way..to include eternity... I knew I would fail. I would be trying to control an aspect that was out of my control. So, I chose to place my eternal destiny into the control of the Lord. And from what I believe in the Bible, the only Person able to bridge the gap was Jesus. So, I prayed to Him & asked Him to be my Source - my Lord, my Saviour - in my life. I asked Him to be my "go-between" with God to restore a right relationship with my Creator,

Now, let me say that this was not based on an emotional feel. It was based on what I read from the Bible and believed as a fact. It was all based on my response to what was written in the Bible & upon my response to Who I chose to believe God was. There are times that I do not feel I have ever "met Jesus", and must rely upon the fact that God did as He promised He would do if anyone would follow His Son.

Catastrophic events like the Asian tsunami really shake a person's faith. But, we must remember that God set the creation in motion based on laws He established. Then man comes along & messes with creation & throws things off balance. God, I believe, does not cause things like this tsunami ...and I feel it grieves His heart to see tragedies like this. But since He lives in the hearts of those who have chosen to follow Him (by "meeting Jesus"), He is able to be present at the scene of disaster through those who respond to aid, rescue, and comfort. It is an opportunity for God's Love to be the "tsunami" of Grace to those in need.

I believe that too many people put too much faith in the "feeling" or the event itself of meeting Jesus. I think it's more about what one is willing to believe as "fact" and what their response to this fact will be. I know the Bible says that God even helps his Children love Him...when they are unable to do so by themselves. Don't ask me how that happens, but I have to believe, by faith, that it does!

So, how did you "meet Jesus"? It's quite possible that you may have already met Him and don't recogize it. Just like those who met Him on the road to Emmaus:

The Emmaus Disciples
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 Then He asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having as you are walking?” And they stopped [walking and looked]* discouraged.
18 The one named Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” He asked them.
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see Him.”
25 He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29 But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.
30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32 So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24 - The Holman Christian Standard Bible)

As you walk down your own "Emmaus Road", take time to listen.