There is a Reason for Everything
by Joey Maples

My parents were divorced when I was three years old, so I lived with my mother in Augusta, Georgia. My dad moved back to North Carolina where he grew up, and worked with his family at their course business in Pinehurst.

My mother was remarried a couple of years later, to a man who was very abusive. Although he never touched me physically, there were plenty of times when my step-father would manhandle and beat my mom. I couldn't stand him. I could never understand why she stayed with him. I begged her to leave many times. Mom worked full time, and often had to work more than one job to make sure we had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live. She ended up staying with him for seven years.

During those years, life seemed meaningless, with no purpose. I just existed. But looking back, I can see that the Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me.

Uncle Don Maples, my dad's younger brother, also lived in Augusta. He reached out to me. I guess seeing the situation I was living in, he wanted to help. He knew there was more to life than what I was getting at home. My mom and step-father moved around quite a bit, renting and leaving, renting and leaving. My Uncle Don must have really loved me because he would travel to wherever we lived, pick me up, and take me with him to Lumpkin Road Baptist Church. We would go to church on Sunday morning, spend the day together, and go back to church on Sunday night. Then he'd take me back home. We were on the road a lot.

With problems at home left behind, those trips from my house to church with Uncle Don were such happy times. He would put in a tape of some really good gospel quartet music, and as the joyful harmonies filled the air we'd both sing out loud and strong on the way to and from church.

I developed a real love for singing that began on those trips with my uncle. Even as a child I could tell that he had a real heart for the things of the Lord, so on those long trips in his car I'd ask Uncle Don what the Bible teaches about many things, like what happens after death, heaven and hell, Satan and Christ, how the world got here, and many other questions that came to my mind.

At church, Uncle Don sang in the choir and then came down to sit with me. I saw not only his willingness to reach out to me, but also the joy he had as he served God with his voice in the choir. He was a true Christian. I remember thinking, "I sure wish I could sing in that choir like my uncle". I wanted my life to be filled with purpose and joy like his.

Not only were those trips back and forth to church on Sundays a welcome getaway from my empty life and the violence I experienced at home. But while we were singing and talking about salvation and heaven, I found that I was becoming very concerned about my eternal future. One day I told my uncle that I wanted to be saved.

Uncle Don talked with me to make sure that I understood what it meant to be saved. He called my dad in North Carolina and told him that I wanted to go forward in church the next Sunday to surrender my life to Christ, and my dad said he wouldn't miss begin there for the world. That Sunday, Dad came to Augusta. During the invitation at the end of the service, I slipped out from my seat and walked down the aisle where I met my uncle and Mr. Stady, the deacon who read me some salvation scriptures. I prayed to receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. As a nine year old boy who lived in a home which seemed hopeless, my life was changed.

I remember going back toward my seat thinking, "I'm saved, I have Jesus in my heart!!" When I got back to the sanctuary, I ran to my dad and gave him a big hug. At that time, I didn't realize all that I had gained when I accepted Jesus Christ. There were no explosions or fireworks that went off that morning. But my heart was really changed. The Savior of the world had entered in.

From that day, even as a young boy, my life began to have real purpose. Not long after, my mom got divorced from the man who had left such a terrible emotional stamp on our lives. God took me out of that environment and gave me a chance for something better.

Since the age of twenty-two, God has blessed me with a wife and beautiful children, and has worked in our lives in amazing ways to lead us to the home, work and ministry that He continues to map out before us. The joyful music that He used to soften my heart as a young boy in my uncle's car has grown into a ministry of singing for my wife and me.

Not only had God been with me through the most wonderful days, but He's helped me through the most difficult days of my life. He gave my wife and I grace to endure losing our two year old son, Luke, to Cystic Fibrosis. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I have the comfort of knowing that my baby boy is not hurting today, nor will he ever hurt again.

I do not understand everything that goes on in my life but I can look back and see God's leading each step of the way. There is a reason for everything.

I would like for you to understand that if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you cannot save yourself. I cannot save you. Your Pastor or friends, mom or dad cannot save your soul. It must be the work of Jesus Christ. He is "the way, the truth, and the life." If you are wrestling with the matter of your eternal soul, and have never trusted Jesus Christ to save you, you need to know that it is Jesus and Jesus alone who is able to save.

I will never forget how Bob Stady and Uncle Don shared these scriptures that changed my life.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It's clear that all of mankind has sinned.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." God describes the terrible debt that must be paid for sin, and the wonderful gift of God.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, the he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Our Father in Heaven loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place.

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." God is offering His salvation to you.
II Corinthians 6:2 "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Right now, this very moment, you have a decision to make. Will you trust Christ?

Yes, you can know Jesus Christ as your Savior today! With a sincere heart, are you ready to accept his offer of eternal salvation?

Pray this prayer: "Dear Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner, and my life seems to have no purpose. I know you love me and have a plan for my life. I believe God's Word which says that you died for me. Please come into my heart and forgive my sins. I receive you as my savior now. Thank you, Lord, for saving me. In Jesus' name, amen."

Name: _____________________________     Date: ________________

After you ask Jesus to save you, it's important to read your Bible every day, find a Bible-believing church and Christian friends, and you will grow closer to God each day. God Bless You!