A Personal Wake-Up Call

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Adversity, TEACHING, Written Articles

Version 2

Lewis & Lue Gregory 1969 Chevy

Dr. Lewis Gregory

My wife Lue and I were looking forward to enjoying our first holiday weekend together as a married couple (1970). But since the news media emphasized the high risk of traveling during the holidays, we decided to play it safe and spend a leisurely weekend at home.

However, after the second day, we became bored. Solution: go fly a kite, except we didn’t have one. So off to the store we went. Little did we know what awaited us on our return trip. As we rounded the curve, our nice quiet holiday came to a screeching halt. A large Asplund Tree Company truck crashed right into us. As I peered through the broken windshield at the front of the truck, I heard my wife moaning. The next thing I knew we were leaving the hospital in a daze. Someone mentioned how lucky we were. Yet, I kept thinking, this was not luck, it was a miracle! This was God! We had faced death, and survived.

During the next few days, I had plenty of time to reflect. I did a lot of praying and personal soul searching, especially after I viewed the damage to our automobile. Wow! Our beautiful new car, which I had idolized as a symbol of success, was now merely a crumpled old junk heap. It was totally demolished. Scratch one status symbol.

Version 2

1969 Chevy After the life changing accident

My eyes were opened. It dawned on me that this could have been very serious. Life is extremely fragile. So, I began to ask myself some very probing questions. What did all this mean? Who am I? Where am I going? And how am I going to get there? Although it took many months to satisfactorily resolve these questions, God showed me one thing rather quickly. True life can never be found in the temporal things of this world. “And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consist not in the abundance of the things which he possess” (Luke 12:15). Therefore, I concluded that climbing the worldly ladder of success is not the answer.

Well, so much for a nice, safe, relaxing weekend. However, I’m thankful for that accident. Thankful? Yes, thankful! You see it woke me up to the realization that the source of genuine fulfillment is found only in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can provide lasting peace and joy. And He has! Although I had known Christ as my Lord and Savior since age 11, I did not know Him as my Life. But now all that has changed. The outcome has been much safer and more relaxing than anything I have ever known. I have experienced a “value shift” from the temporal to the eternal.

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). That is exactly what I did. Since I have made Him my primary focus, He has taken care of all the rest. When we focus on the eternal, He will guide us regarding the temporal. Jesus Christ is now my Lord, my Life, and my All! Now that Christ is living His life through me, it has made all the difference. Thank God, I finally woke up!

What are you seeking? God promised if you would seek Him, then you would find Him. He’s here for you. But you must seek Him with all your heart. It’s time to seek the Lord!

The First Step to Knowing God

4 Responses to “A Personal Wake-Up Call”

  1. Rosalba Epps Says:

    Bro. Gregory, you were right! how simple an exemple of something that could have been tragic making us think back to where we are placing our focus on.
    I believe that maybe this is what I need, a “value shift” follow the advise of Mathew 6:33 and let Him add all those other things to my life… Gracias!!

  2. Katy Pistole Says:

    Hi Lewis,
    So glad you and Lue are OK! Having some refocusing moments ourselves here in the fine land of Bumpass 🙂
    I so appreciate your heart.
    Dancing in Him,
    Katy

    • Lewis Gregory Says:

      Hi Katy. Thanks for taking time to comment. Appreciate your kind comment. Call if I can ever be of assistance. I enjoyed reading over your site today! Blessings on your fine ministry.

  3. pastor Abel gisemba Says:

    Life has got alot of challenges.we ask for protection in our dairly living.i think thats the most thing is security and protection.continue praying for my church and the orphans that the church will now take responsible.