Eric

“I couldn't get help, even my family had locked their doors.  I was homeless, living on the streets of Columbus.  I had some drugs left in my vehicle at the time. I used them that morning and I died.  It led me to an overdose. It was on my grandfather's birthday, July 21, 2020.  From the time they found me, to the time I finally opened my eyes and took a breath, was more than an hour.  The paramedics and EMS had given up doing CPR. They'd given up on Narcan. They'd given up everything.  I was dead. I was blue from head to toe; my eyes were gone.  As I laid there on the floor, I believe that God withdrew Himself completely from me to allow me to see the consequences of my behavior, to allow me to see what life outside of Him looks like.  It's pain and fear that words can't describe. I was given a picture of my entire life from the beginning until the end.  The picture wasn't given to me for me. It was given to see how my actions, words, and behaviors had affected other people.  I was lying in a dark void crippled by fear.  I thought it was going to be for eternity.  The worst part is the loneliness and thinking that there is no going back. All of a sudden, a light came on in the distance.  It came closer and closer and closer. Eventually it washed over me. When the light washed over me, I stood up and I was in a white room.  I took a breath and instantly it went from pain, fear, and hopelessness to a sudden peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that changed me, a peace that I believe is only from God. It can only be from God.  It's a brief glimpse into what heaven's going to be like.  Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” My aunt, a Christian lady who I condemned for most of my life, was on her knees praying over me.  When I physically opened my eyes and came to, she was over top of me praying. From the moment I opened my eyes, I was healed.  I mean, perfectly fine. They couldn't believe it. I went to the hospital and got checked out, they said, you're good.  My aunt followed us to the hospital.  She said, “I know a place called Teen Challenge. It's a discipleship ministry and they have a bed open. I would like you to go.”  With nothing but the clothes on my back I went to the ministry, which is now Cincinnati Challenge Ranch.  I dropped everything, literally everything.  That's the best way to show up!  God started to pour His truth on me, I was on fire.  The day I graduated I was asked to become a staff member.  I have been on staff serving at the ministry ever since.  I think a lot of non-believers tend to form their opinions off of the misrepresentation of others, hypocrisy. Your relationship can only be found through you and the Lord. It can't be built off of somebody else's relationship with the Lord.  Don't let the misrepresentation of Christianity keep you from hearing truth for yourself.  A favorite verse to me is Ephesians 2:4-5, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  My name is Eric and I surrender.”