Born in September 1949 in Germany, I was a typical postwar child. My parents were penniless, but all their love and care they focused on me.
However, there was one thing that utterly disturbed me, and that was their devoutness towards God and their mission to drag me to church and all kinds of Christian events.
As a teenager and young adult in the 50-ies I was totally bored by all that. The young people in our neighborhood played and listened to Rock ‘n’ Roll and Elvis Presley, threw parties and enjoyed the so-called wild life. All that attracted me a lot more than church. At the age of 14 I decided to turn my back on God, church and anything Christian.
As the world headed towards 1968, I found my place among the hippie community, became a flower power kid proclaiming sex, drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll to be the emphasis in life. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others became my heroes and I surely didn’t miss any festival.
The more I followed my desires in life, the more I turned my back on the – from my point of view – bourgeois life of the average person in Germany. Christian religion was nothing I was considering at all.
Through smoking cannabis and absorbing LSD I gave access to TM, Indian mystics and the supernatural. All of these were everyday practices and experiences among me and my friends. Travelling became my favorite activity, and by dealing drugs it was quite handy to pay for it. For approx. 10 years all my life turned around these things. As time went by, the drugs my friends and I were consuming became stronger, some of my friends died, were arrested or taken into psychiatries. From time to time the police arrested me, too, and I found myself in prison. That was definitely not funny at all.
One day, all of a sudden, Jesus was the main topic on the scene of my home town. My friends started to read the bible in the discotheque and discussed things about God. One of the occult freaks we were hanging around with said, Jesus was an outstanding magician. I only thought that all this was horrible. This went on for two years, without having any effect on me.
My life went down the drain. One night, while we had another drug party in our commune, where I was high on drugs, I was finally ready to commit suicide. The spirits that I had invited into my life wouldn’t let go of me. In my desperation, realizing that I had hit the rock bottom of my life I cried out to God for help.
And the miracle happened! In the glimpse of a moment I literally got baptized in his love. His peace consumed me and I felt as if I was bathing in his light. I instantly knew: I will take no drugs any more and I will never be the same again. Irrespective of me, Irene, who was my girlfriend back then and is my wife today, had a similar experience with God. Because of this experience and the fascination drawing us to Jesus, we realized that he lives and that we are supposed to live, too.
Since then we have been on our way with Jesus together. We are travelling the whole world and are privileged to see thousands and thousands making the same wonderful experience as we.God is the God of miracles. He is not further away but one simple and humble prayer.
The cross of Calvary was no accident – it rather is the biggest event in all of history. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died for you. He has overcome the power of death, and now he lives and wants to reconcile you with the Father in heaven. He has awesome plans for your life. He wants to use you to make this earth a better place. And on top of all this, his precious gift to you is his eternal life dwelling in you.
Dare to invite him into your life and you’ll see miracles.If you want, please pray the following prayer and personally invite Jesus into your life:
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the truth, the path and the life all in one. The truth is that I have messed up my life. I ask forgiveness for all my wrongdoings, following my own paths, the hate I harbored in my heart, the many times I hurt myself and others. Thank you that you died for me. Thank you that the truth also is that you carried everything on the cross, and that I can be free! Lord Jesus, I want to step on and walk your path. I want to live the life that you have designed for me. Deliver me, heal me, forgive me. I am so grateful that you are standing there with your arms opened wide, waiting for me. And I am running into your loving arms. Amen!
I never regretted praying this simple prayer and I pray and trust that it will also bless you as you start a new life with Jesus!
Walter Heidenreich