Steve with his youngest daughter, Esther
Recently I challenged some students at the school where I teach to draw me their time-lines to indicate some of the key events in their lives. When I look back and consider mapping out the most influential events in my life it must include Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, the first 11 years of my life had no real experience of hearing God's word or coming into contact with many Christians. I do remember receiving a Gideon's Bible at school and, having read parts of the New Testament, being drawn to the fact that I was accountable to a Holy God. Even though it did not seem significant at the time I also remember sitting in a church with my group of young teenage friends listening to how Jesus could be "our Saviour". I made a prayerful response but then deliberately pulled away from anything that was deemed religious. I guess at this point I pursued what could only be described as "me" oriented life-style for several years. I will spare you the details but suffice to say by the age of 17, I felt like a wrung-out cloth devoid of hope and longing for meaning inside. Fortunately, I did have one Christian chum who took the initiative and brought me to an event where I heard these wonderful words of Jesus: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never go hungry…" (John 6:35). Had God pursued me those last few years? There seemed no options but to confess my sins and believe in the work of His Son. Heaven's love had finally cornered me!
The Bible often refers to God pouring out His Holy Spirit onto His followers and this was also what happened to me as a young Christian. Suddenly, a joy and a power that I had never had before swept through and helped me to put to rest many problems inherited through my late teens. I enlisted in a great church and found many young folk with a similar Christian world-view. Shortly after I was back at college and seven years later I had a science degree and a research job at Edinburgh University.
Throughout my Christian life I have had to learn patience and perseverance. God works through the meek in a special way (Matthew 5:5), often bringing the unobtainable into being. My time-line would not only be dotted with very special friends, opportunities in education and employment, but also with marriage and family. Having to wait usually results in unexpected surprises. As Psalm 23 reminds us, "The Lord is my Shepherd…He makes me lie down in green pastures".
So what would be written down now on my time-line now? I think it would be two areas.
Firstly, the wonder of learning the things of God. The "Fear of the Lord" as King Solomon wrote about in Proverbs (a great book to check out for direction in our current secular culture). Issues such as fatherhood, leadership and discernment all make an appearance throughout the Bible. A willingness to learn God's mind in these matters is a wonderful and challenging journey to be on.
Secondly, a word that has lost common currency today - obedience. Obedience is saying that I will walk with you wherever you take me and this is so important in maintaining a fresh and nurturing life in God. After all, He has our best interests at heart (Matthew 6: 25-34) and His peace is what we really need in life (Matthew 11: 25-30). Currently my obedience is being tested regarding relocation of a job and home. Do I push where I want to go or do I wait on God's still voice? Knowing what to choose is not always the easy option!
However, I hope and pray that looking back in another five years’ time I will be able to place another pleasing comment on my time-line, knowing that God's will was indeed the best one to follow.
Steve Begarnie