I Should Not Be Here

Before I was saved I can think of three times I should have died, yet the Lord preserved me while I was an enemy of God. The first time was a little over 30 years ago when I was driving my pickup truck in a remote area of New Mexico traveling over 100 mph. I was on was a long straight stretch with rolling hills. As I was topping of one of the hills I heard a loud voice in my head shout “slow down!” I immediately did. That made the difference between crashing into a deer or not; yet I did not give thanks to God or give Him any credit for saving me.

The second time was a couple years later when I tangled with a barb wire fence while riding my dirt bike. A friend and I was going down an old dirt road which we had been on many times before. (It was not an official road.) The rancher who had rights to the land wanted to stop people from traveling this road so he put a barb wire fence across it. The road went to a place where people would dump trash, so he was trying to put a stop to the littering . I was wide open on my bike and did not see the fence until I was right on it. The top wire caught my neck and flipped me off the back of the bike. I got up, got back on my bike thinking lucky me and road home. I have a scar where the barb cut into my neck. Once again I did not give thanks to God or give Him any credit for saving me.

The third time was about 15 years later. This time I was a passenger and my friend was driving on a dirt road in the mountains of Eastern Arizona. He lost control, ran off the road, we flipped. I was not wearing a seat belt and half of my body went out the window. The truck landed upside down with me being pinned across my lower back between the door and top of the truck. I was unconscious only waking up briefly two times the rest of the day and night. Once in the hospital to hear the Doctor say they are flying me to Phoenix. Then I woke briefly on the plane. The next morning the nurse came to my room saying “you can go home.” I had no broken bones or any serious injuries, but I was stiff and sore for the next few weeks. I remember having to sleep sitting in a chair because it hurt too much to lie down. Still once again I did not give thanks to God or give Him any credit for saving me.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1Timothy 1:15-16 NKJV)

As I look back it is scary thinking what could have happened if Christ was not rich in His mercy toward me. As it says in Romans chapter 1, there comes a time when God turns us over to our sinful ways when we suppress the truth in unrighteousness. He could have let me die and I would be in hell right now. If you are not saved and reading this, maybe God has been working on your heart drawing you to Himself. Do not harden your heart or put it off, respond while you still may for the day will come when you will not be able. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV) If you read my testimony “How I Came to Know Jesus” above you will know I fought against His salvation for many years. I have many times wondered had I rejected His salvation that day I received Him, would He have turned me over to my sinful ways. I am so thankful He did not and saved me. Thank you Jesus!

I encourage you to click here to read Romans 1:18-32. These are very powerful passages.


…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2b NKJV)

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,

‘ They shall not enter My rest.’”

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (Hebrews 3:7-12 NKJV)

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all…. (1Timothy 2:3-6 NKJV)