Mirage - My Testimony

  We read a most amazing chapter in the book of Isaiah. Undoubtedly one of the greatest chapters of the old testament. And from this chapter we will find our text for today.

Isaiah 35:7, “And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water”

  To make this verse even more powerful, let me quote it from another bible translation as well. “And the burning sand and mirage shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.” Amplified Version.

  Now you can clearly see, that this is where I got my title from. A mirage is an optical illusion of water, that appears in the desert. Many times a weary, thirsty, worn traveler, will think he sees a pool of water in the desert, and would chase it for miles, only to find this great hopeful source of life, was only a mirage. Leaving the dry traveler, with only a dream of refreshing life. When Isaiah was writing this verse, he was very familiar with what he was saying. No doubt there had been some times when he himself had been caught in a mirage, or had heard of others that had been in this horrible situation.

  Let me tell you, beloved, I was once in a situation as such. I was walking the desert road of life, following ignorantly a mirage devised by hell. I was careless with the supply of food and water. Who needed that with the dreams and goals I had? That the devil told me I would soon reach. I could make it. In my own mind, I was on my way to the top someday. I was going to be the best, and most well known guitar player and singer the world had ever known. Yes I was thirsty, but I could see that water just ahead. I would lay awake at night, as I would close my eyes, heart pounding, the excitement of the carnal waters of my future would keep my mind rolling. I could hear the drums slamming, the kick drum beating, starting the next sold out concert of my third or forth big tour. The lights flashing, the people going wild, the band kicking in on the intro. Then there I was, running across the stage picking the best guitar solo ever known to man, only to run to my place behind the microphone stand, and sing the next big hit, I had just wrote, along with Nashville’s finest pickers backing me up with harmonies vocals and the best music. Yeah, I was going to make it big someday. But one day, a week after my fifteenth birthday, I was at a small youth camp, way out in the sticks, at a little place called Tranquility Ohio. A Pastor, by the name of Jack Stout, from a church in Indiana was there to preach the evening services. I remember filling the Holy Ghost so strong on the first night, that I knew this week of youth camp would be different for me. But I was still chasing those empty dreams. But on Wednesday Morning, before the morning service, there was a set prayer time, and I had been going through the motions all week, so I assumed this Wednesday would be the same. But as I knelt to fake my way through another prayer, I began to hear the CD being played over the speakers. It was a song of such love, and a song of great conviction. At that moment I began to weep uncontrollably. As I listened to the man sing of how this great almighty God, (that I had heard preached so wonderfully, and felt all week) had saved his sinners heart, and made his life brand new, and all he had to do was ask Him into His heart. For the first time, I really looked closely at my life, all those big dreams promised to me, and I realized it was all nothing but a mirage. I wept as never before, as the sweet presence of the Holy Ghost came over me, convincing me I was a sinner, and convicting me of my sins. I cried with my whole heart, “God!! I’m sorry for my sins! Please forgive me! The singer says all I have to do is ask you. I know you are real! Because I have felt you this week so strong. So now I am asking you, please forgive me, and come in my life. I don’t want to go this way any longer. There is nothing here God! I want you! I know I am not much, but what I am you can have me. All of me! I am yours Lord!! I am yours.”

  Today I am thrilled to say, this coming July will be three years of walking, and coming to know this amazing Christ! I have had dry times, I have had hard times, I have had many battles, but I am no longer chasing the mirage. I am living in the pool of life, in this desert world of death. I am living in springs of water, I am living in Christ!! I am born again!!!

  The next day after my born again experience, Pastor Jack preached a message titled “Dream Big”. It was a message to let Christ birth a dream in your heart, and follow it. Through his message he spoke with every young person there, and asked their dreams. And he came to me, and said “I know what your dream must be!” and as he handed me the microphone, my heart began to pound, all my dreams flashed back through my mind, and tears came into my eyes, and as I opened my mouth, the new man in me said something I had never said before, “I just want, whatever He wants for me. Wherever God wants to put me, that will be fine with me.” And I remember the look on his face as he asked, “you mean if God asked you to put that guitar away and preach His word… you would do it?” and I humbly said, “yes. I would have to if He asked me.” O dear soul, I was born again!! I knew that I was no longer living a life deceived by the deadly mirage! Those big dreams didn’t even matter anymore! I was a new man!! And I loved it! Hallelujah! I love you Jesus!!

  Beloved, if you are still chasing a mirage, and just going through the motions, don’t wait any longer to know Christ Jesus. Today He is saying to you, “stop chasing everything you think will bring you life. Stop following those empty promises, and lay it all aside and follow me. I know you long for water, in this dry and burning hot world, but just let me have total control, for I Am the only Life for you! And not only Life, but I will completely turn your mirage… into a water pool of everlasting, inexhaustible comfort in me. All you have to do is ask me.” BELOVED, LET CHRIST TURN YOUR MIRAGE INTO A WATER POOL! Hallelujah! Let it be Lord, let it be! Amen.