How Could A Loving
God Let Something Like
This Happen?
The True Story of
"Frankie"
Growing up in rural North Dakota, I believed there was a God. I was baptized in one denomination and confirmed in another. I thought churches were all the same: dry and irrelevant. I thought that God was an all-loving, sweet, old teddy bear who just sat up in Heaven waiting for people to die so He could usher them all into Heaven, the Bible says, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19).
Nobody told me the Bible says, "for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:22-23).In school, the honor roll required very little effort on my part, and so my interests turned to pleasure seeking.
God was put on the back burner (after all, I thought the things of this world were much more important). I didn't think much about God, and I thought most people went to Heaven when they die. Self-gratification and pleasure is the purpose of life, isn't it? You know, I never did get enough pleasure. Besides, I thought most people went to Heaven, and only really bad people like Hitler went to Hell.
Nobody told me that Jesus Himself said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13- 14)Since school was effortless, I quickly learned the direct connection between work and money. Employment provided more than enough money to support my new habits. Already full of pride, too much money without responsibility just inflated my already pious ego. Being full of pride, I mocked 'slower' classmates. Nobody told me, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
God tried many times to humble me, but I am stubborn. One summer, I rolled a dune buggy which resulted in a fractured skull and a busted collar bone. A minister asked me if I had accepted Christ yet, and I distinctly remember thinking, "I'll wait until next time." What a fool I was. If I had died that time, I would have woke up in Hell.
Nobody told me that Jesus Himself said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)I was religious, and even though I was not born again, surely God could see that I wasn't as bad as other people. Certainly, a loving God could overlook my sin and let me into Heaven because I didn't sin that much. Nobody told me that Heaven was a free gift, and one which I could never earn.
Nobody told me the Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)After the dune buggy accident, my left eye was damaged, so God used an eye patch to humble me for a couple months. After eye surgery, the old, proud, know-it-all Frank soon returned. I became invincible -- not even dune buggies could kill me! I dove deep into new depths of sin like there was no tomorrow. Even though I thought the purpose of life was the pursuit of pleasure, I never did get enough. I was trying so hard to be satisfied by this temporal world. Nobody told me the Bible says, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:7)
After graduation, the thought of college never entered my mind. I thought college was full of 'better-than-thou' snobs, and besides, I was already too smart for my own good, After all, the purpose in life is pleasure, not knowledge, isn't it? Nobody told me the Bible says, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27).
At that time, I owned a metallic-blue 1979 Chevrolet Camaro. It was all painted up and ran real good.
For some reason, call it coincidence if you want, but God knows the truth, one night my car wouldn't start. Instead of asking permission to use my parents car, I just took it to a friend's place. While returning home late that night, I fell asleep behind the wheel. Police said I was going at least 70 mph when I left the road. I struck an approach and became airborn. A hunter spotted the car four hours later, and I was cut out of the car and rushed to the hospital. If I had died at this time, I would have split Hell clear up the middle. I know for a fact that if my car would have started that night, I'd be burning in Hell today.
Nobody told me the Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)I was in a coma 10 days and in the hospital three months. Doctors advised my parents to admit me to a mental institution because I wasn't supposed to walk, talk, or hear again. I was so weak, I had to learn to walk all over again in a pool. God didn't want me in Hell, so He didn't let me die, but rather humbled me. Barely eighteen, with the educational level of a seventh grade child, God gave me yet another chance.
Nobody told me the Bible says, God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)God allowed me to have a car accident so I could see how short life is. God used a car accident to bring me to Fargo, North Dakota. I thought I was coming to Fargo to pursue a new purpose in life -- knowledge. I had been humbled good and was now positive there was a God. I still sinned, but now I was a little more careful with my sin.
Nobody told me the Bible says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)I graduated from college and was employed by a power company. Another power company offered me a generous salary. Money was easily accessible, but I didn't get enough of that either. I started to accumulate 'things'.
I found myself with eight cars and a new higher credit limit on my credit card. I couldn't satisfy my desires. How much money was enough? Just a little bit more.I got a ride to church one Sunday morning and started to hear the Bible preached with authority. I had never known how practical the Bible was. I never knew that the Bible is historically, scientifically, and prophetically correct. Then I heard something that startled me. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
That statement scared me. I was guilty of eight of the ten sins. The Bible could just as well have said, 'Frank shall not inherit the kingdom of God.' I finally saw myself the way God did. Previously, I thought there were many ways to Heaven and only a few ways to Hell.
Nobody told me that Jesus said Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) I didn't know there's only one way to Heaven.In March 1993, I repented of my selfish, self-serving, wicked ways, and called upon the name of the Lord to save me. Jesus said, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)If I were to die today, I couldn't go to Hell if I wanted to. I didn't think I had a choice in the matter, but God loves us so much, He gives us all a choice. God doesn't want to send anybody to Hell, but God hates sin. Sin can't go to Heaven. God loved me so much that He allowed me to have a car accident so I could come to the realization that there is a God out there who loves us. God didn't let me die because He didn't want me in Hell. Riches, earthly pleasure, and material possessions can't fill that void you have. I never could fill that void in my life because only Christ can fill that void.
So many people are searching for the 'meaning of life.' I learned the hard way what the meaning of life is.
You don't have to learn the hard way. The Bible says, "These things have I written unto you...that ye may know that ye have eternal life...." God used a car accident to show me that life is short and judgment is certain.
Thought-Provoking
Verses of Scripture"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;" Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth
good, and sinneth not."
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7, Verse 20"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans,
Chapter 6, Verse 23"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish." Luke, Chapter 13, Verse 3"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Ro-
mans, Chapter 5, Verse 8"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God..." First
Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 18"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans, Chapter 10, Verse 9"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved." Romans, Chapter 10, Verse 13"But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name:"
John, Chapter 1, Verse 12
Frank Grabanski lives in Fargo, N.D. If you would like to
hear more about the Saviour who changed his life, you can
call him at aaa.476.0530. You are also welcome to attend
services at Fargo Baptist Church: 3303 23rd Av. SW. in Fargo.
For a FREE Home Bible Study or any other information,
please call the church at aaa.232.5500.
