The Scruff of the Neck

Does making a decision for Christ at an early age really help?

My sophomore year in college I was in a world of confusion when it came to my relationship with God. I was leading - co-directing a christian drama group going around to different churches to perform and share the message of the gospel in a memorable and dramatic way. I was turning my radio tuning more and more to a christian station on a daily basis. I was attending a small group from time to time. On the other side, I wasn't sure about the existence of God or at least his involvement in my life which largely came from my desire to continue in my addiction of pornography and sleeping with my girlfriend at the time. If God didn't exist, then I can do whatever I want as much as I want to.

I took a trip on spring break to visit some friends in Oregon. This trip was the epitome of my two sided life. I was driving down the road fantasizing about hooking up with a girl at some gas station who I would never see again and not sure if I even wanted to come back to school. At the same time I was praying God would somehow use me to reach out to my friends I was going to see. And here is the kicker, I had submitted an application to join a traveling youth ministry team for the next year of my life. So while I'm in this massive lust spiral I am still looking for the opportunity of sharing Christ with others.

In the middle of this trip which included camping with friends who rolled their own cigarettes, target practice with 22s, life change stories shared around the campfire, and naively walking out of a store in which my friends had used their five finger discount. I get a call from the director of the ministry. Cory, he says, You're in I will see you in June. God was there the whole time watching me. He let me go so far, and then I feel like he grabbed me by the back of the collar and said, "that's far enough come on back now I have a job for you to do."

In Job 12 through the midst of his lament, Job affirms the sovereignty of God. God is the one who takes of shackles put on by kings, He leads priest away stripped and overthrows men long established. He makes nations great, and destroys them. In other words God is in charge and there is really nothing we can do about it. At least not in the outward circumstances. We can choose to reject his plan with in our hearts or to accept it.

I was baptized at 13 and I knew then I wanted to follow God. God took me at my word and at my vow even though I didn't know what was coming next. He kept a close eye on me when I wasn't sure if he was even around. When I was leaning out over the edge of the cliff he pulled me back on and gave me the opportunity to turn back around. It was still my choice what I was going to do with it. But he set it up for me and brought me back.

I am glad God is sovereign in my life, I don't know where I would have been without him but I got a good look over the cliff. He pulled me back again just last night. I was getting ready to take the plunge in to mediocrity and maintenance mode here in my church. But God caught me by the back of the neck once again and I was tipping forward and reminded me through a wonderful new mentor - get back your fire, your passion, your vision. You can do this.

May God grab you by the back of the neck today and keep you from falling, because...well...he promised to.