`Live by the sword...die by the sword'

I was heading out one Sunday with some club brothers (in my former life), and back then, I would occasionally visit this one particular church. I called myself a Christian in spite of the fact that I had been in fights, shootouts, stole bikes, cheated on all my wives, and exacted physical punishment within the ranks of my old club with a smile on my face.

When we arrived at the church that day, I saw a guy that thought he was a real bad-ass. He was no wimp, but he loved to trash women. He had never ridden with a club but he professed to be a gang member once and he had spent some time in the joint. I always had a pet-peeve for guys who hit women—I watched my mother beaten as a kid and I hated men who mistreated women in any form or fashion (verbally or physically). I loved to make these guys soil their britches. Notice my mentality back then—I mistreated women all the time as a cheater and a womanizer, but nevertheless…

This guy was about 6`3” or 4” (not sure) and he towered over me at 5`11”. These were my favorite moments—I loved to challenge men to their faces, no matter the consequences. I headed for him and walked up on a conversation in which he was, as usual, bragging about how much of a bad-ass he was.

I walked up to him…looked him in the eye and said, “Live by the sword and you will die by the sword.” Note to self: Never speak a prophetic word on sacred church grounds—it will come true! I never saw him again, in fact, I can`t remember his name; however, I “died by the sword” myself about a year or so after telling this man that he would.

Long story short, I was banished from my club for fighting with a superior officer. I was guilty of some things, that was true, but the things that were said about me, the history revisionism, and the hatred and resentment that I experienced (and still do to this very day) were—I believe—God`s answer to a prayer. These things were also my own prophetic words, spoken to another man on church property, coming back to haunt me.

When I came to the Lord on May 20^th of 2012, I asked Him to remove anything that stood in the way of my devotion to Him. God answered that prayer. He never does so in the way we would think is best, but he always does what is best for our lives and his plan.

I have learned one very important thing in this life that I did not know or practice in my old life: Those who give no mercy will receive no mercy. Those who give no forgiveness will receive none. Yeah, I was a real bad-ass. I hold a second degree black belt, I have faced some of the meanest bikers in America, and I`ve gone to war for my club—but—God`s wrath is terrible and mighty. We humans have no idea how horrible it is to face the God of Heaven when he is angry.

Yes, we may escape his wrath for a time because he loves us so much. He loves us so much more than we can even understand; however, one day—when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled—the Eastern sky will break open and all who thought they were bad-asses will prostrate themselves in wretched fear of Almighty God and the Lion of Judah. Oh, I thank my Heavenly Father for his grace and mercy. I thank him for the pain and humbling I received that brought me to his feet at the cross. I pray for those who do not fear God, who do not give mercy, and who do not allow forgiveness to those who seek forgiveness. God is a loving and patient Father but someday he must reward those who have run the race. Someday he will decide to make his Saints wait no longer. If you do not know Christ on that day…it will be a day of complete and unrelenting terror (Joel 2:28-32). You who think you have no fear will see the true meaning of fear. I say this not as a threat, but as a sincere and prayerful warning that you who do not know Christ will come to the cross and receive the free gift of his love and grace. God have mercy on this lost and dying world.

I heard Dr. Stanley of First Baptist Church of Atlanta say, “The best story to reveal the true character and personality of God is the story of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32). You see, I`m not a man who likes to preach “fire and brimstone” because I know that God`s will is that you would come home to him just like the Prodigal Son.. He calls us “The apple of his eye.” He sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross as payment for sin—a payment that must be made to rectify the world to a Holy and Just God.  

But…what do I know…I`m just an old grey beard biker who fell at the feet of Jesus. Amen