I felt so weak I thought I would faint. I grasped His hand in mine. Then I raised my eyes, crying "Glory to God in the Highest. Now I know that Jesus lives, for I have seen Him."
by J.A. Holsworth
I have always believed that there is a Savior. That is faith. But to know that He lives today is knowledge. I had a great desire to have this knowledge and to obtain it I tried to prepare myself through fasting and prayer. Over a period of about four years I fasted and prayed at various times.
On this particular occasion I was at home alone. I was kneeling beside a large rocker with my arms resting on the arm of that chair. I was praying, trying to humble myself before God. I sought His forgiveness, expressing my unworthiness, and pleading that I might have the knowledge that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God.
It seemed as if the forces of evil were doing everything to thwart me. As I began to pray, that evil power increased in intensity until I concluded not to pray any more. Then in the far corner of the room there appeared a light about two feet in diameter. In this light was a face. I realized that there was deliverance, and I prayed to that light that I might be worthy of a blessing. I prayed for worthiness and humility that I might be able to receive that light. The light grew larger and the man came closer until I saw Him completely. About the middle of the room I realized He was walking on the floor. He came to me where I was praying on my knees and extended His hand so that I saw the print of the nails.
I felt so weak I thought I would faint. I grasped His hand in mine. Then I raised my eyes, crying "Glory to God in the Highest. Now I know that Jesus lives, for I have seen Him."
He said, "When you have seen me you have seen the Father." He extended His hand a second time and again I placed His hand between mine as I had done previously and repeated the same words.
Then raising His hand He said, "Bear this testimony to this unbelieving, dying world, that I live today."
What a wonderful testimony I have to bear to the world today. He lives, and is a hearer and answerer of our prayers!
Some of us are going to be very surprised when we see Him. He does not look like the pictures we have of Him in our homes today. He does not have His hair parted in the center, and it does not reach down to His shoulders. His hair was combed straight back but it did not touch His garment. There was about an inch between His garment and the hair. His hair was dark but sprinkled with gray. His beard was not long or heavy. He had a beard like a Jew, a Rabbi beard. His forehead was high.
He was wearing a beautiful white garment that reached down to His feet. I did not see His feet. The garment was without a seam and had loose, flowing sleeves.
I would judge Him to be a man about thirty to thirty-five years of age. He seemed to be about 135 pounds in weight, and He was about five feet six or seven inches tall. A man about His stature was Brother C. Ed. Miller. In other respects He did not resemble Brother Miller.
As He talked with me I received such a pleasant smile that I thought then and I have thought since that when my time of departure comes and I have to stand before Him to be judged, if I receive that same welcoming smile I will feel that my life has been well spent.
I know several other people who have also seen the Christ who could testify to the truthfulness of what I have stated.
In December 1996, my son James was 10 months old. We were at church at a dress rehearsal for the Christmas concert, which included portions of Handel's Messiah. The first song we practiced that night was "And the glory of the Lord." The power of the Lord was there in great measure during the singing of that song. Our director, Matt Black, commented that he had never heard that song sung more powerfully and that we surely must have had angels singing with us.
My mother-in-law was holding James during that practice, and just before that first song James looked up in the balcony and started waving. He had just started waving a few days before and never did it unless he was waving at someone; but there was no one in the balcony (at least no one we could see)! We are sure there was an angel up there waving to James, who was probably one of many singing that night with praise to Jesus.
Matt had been sitting in the auditorium a few nights before, and had felt the presence of angels around him then too. We know that angels are ministering spirits, sent to minister to God's people and to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Gary Metzger was an active member of the Church of Christ who converted to the RLDS church because its doctrines and organization were more in harmony with the Church of Jesus Christ as found in the Bible than any other denomination he could find. Sometime around the time of his conversion, he read the promise in the Doctrine and Covenants that, "every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my [Jesus Christ's] face, and know that I am..." (D&C 90:1a).
Gary strongly believed that this scripture promise was true, and he decided to prepare himself to see Jesus. After some time of regular fasting, prayer and preparation, he had an experience that was quite interesting. Late one night he was filled with the Spirit, and as he was praying he asked Jesus to come to the door and knock. At that exact moment he heard a knock on the door, and he knew that it was Jesus was standing outside. At that point he realized how little prepared he really was, and he was afraid. He tried to muster up the courage to open the door, but the thought of standing face to face with his Master made him tremble. So he did the next best thing -- he woke up his roommate, and told him someone was at the door!
Of course, when the roommate sleepily got up and opened the door, there was no one there. Gary was sorrowful that he hadn't had the courage to open up the door to Jesus, and he resolved to try again. Thirty days later and after more preparation, he was at the same point in faith, desire and intensity of prayer. This time he prayed that even as the apostle Paul saw Him as a light, that His light would shine forth and that Gary could see Him. Immediately there was an intense light shining into the room through the drapes on the front window. Again Gary's faith faltered. When he mustered up a little faith to open the drapes, there was no one there.
Gary later testified, "I was not ready to receive His answer, so my faith shrank. Still, I believe the scriptures, and I testify that if a man's heart is right before God and if he asks in faith, the Lord will answer."
Some lessons from this experience:
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