My Most Important Story

 

 

My most important story

By Curt Iles

I make my living as a storyteller.
As a novelist, I create characters and stories. What I wish to share is a true story. It’s my story.

It’s a story of what happened inside me.
I grew up in a rural area of Louisiana. Our lack of material things was offset by the richness of living in a place where my family had settled nearly two hundred years ago. This gave me roots and a sense of belonging.

When I was fourteen, I realized something was missing in my life. There was a nagging emptiness, a longing for something more. I tried to fill this void with many things. Being from a religious family, I turned toward church activities and a desire to live a good life.
I quickly found this to be impossible and futile. The empty hole remained.
Then for the first time in my life, I became serious about reading the Bible. I began to explore the words and writings of Jesus.

At this time, the first modern translations of the Bible were available and I found the words on these pages alive, fresh, and life-changing. Through careful study, I realized what I needed was not religion. What I needed was a relationship — a personal intimate deep relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I realized through what I read that I could have this relationship by simply asking in faith as I turned my life over to Jesus. I took Jesus up on his words,  “No one who comes to me will be turned away.”

Sitting in a car, reading a gospel tract, I invited Jesus into my life. No bells or whistles sounded, no flash of lightning. However, Jesus began something inside me that continues to this day. He kept his promise and filled my life.
I realized the emptiness in my heart could only be filled by a relationship with Jesus. That hole was God-shaped and nothing in this world could fill it. I went from a head knowledge about Jesus to a heart knowledge. It’s only about ten inches from the brain to the heart. However, it’s the difference that makes all of the difference.

I close with these words from Jesus,  “No one can come to the Father except by me.” John 14:6
It’s my story.
And I’m sticking with it.
And I’m just as excited about my story as the day it first happened.
It can also be your story.

 

Curt Iles

curt@creekbank.net     www.creekbank.net