MY MEETING WITH JESUS

A TESTIMONY

On the afternoon of Saturday, October 8, 1988, I had my own personal confrontation with Jesus Christ.  This experience was indeed a full revelation, in that I was filled with His Spirit throughout all my flesh after the manner of Jeremiah. 

This revelation of Jesus to me came at a time when I was pondering the beauty of the sun before me as it pierced the clouds with radiant rays of brightness.  But most importantly, it came at a time in my life when I had decided to quit totally first by trying to commit suicide and secondly, when that did not work, by then spiritually choosing to never respond to God again.  

It came at a time of full rebellion on my part, for it was on the morning of that Saturday, that I told God in no uncertain terms how I felt.  I was angry, bitter, and disrespectful in all that I said.  Even worse, I blamed Him for all that had transpired in my life.  I declared my relationship with the Church, Zion, and Him, null and void.  I rejected all, period.  Suffice it to say, the degree and intent of my expression to God was as rebellious as I could possibly be and have ever been. 

I was with a friend, driving west of Leavenworth Kansas, when I noticed a very unique configuration of clouds, patterned with bright formations of rays of sun shining through in a most perfect picture. Just as I was verbally acknowledging the strangely, unusual beauty of the sight before me to my friend, it was immediately then that I began to feel the Spirit of God in such power, that my flesh began to burn.  Not only was it centered in my bosom, but all of my body was burning.  My face especially felt extremely hot as a result of what was beginning to transpire at this time, which was approximately 3 p.m. 

My heart and mind began to hear the voice of Jesus, as He allowed me to feel and see the true spiritual condition of my soul while in this condition.  I began to experience immediately a maximum degree of guilt, shame, and accompanying pain that is indescribable, as my various acts and states of sin were reviewed before me.  I felt the unquenchable fire and pain of hell and the torments thereof, as this process continued.  Each act, thought, and deed, brought with it an accompanying experience of guilt and shame.  The suffering I experienced is beyond human measure.  I wept and I suffered as I felt the convicting power of the Holy Ghost reveal to me the dreaded and inescapable reality before me, that I was truly being cast off by God. 

One may hear of it, or may read it, but only the experience itself is all encompassing and fully effectual in maximizing the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet as the Lord established this certainty in my mind of my own guilt and condemnation, He also began to temper this justice and judgment with mercy, as He began to show me what I was called yet to do, how to live, and yet doing so with a lovingness that began in stages to relieve me of the feeling of absolute condemnation I was under.  I began to realize that what was really happening to me was that Jesus was chastising me in the most loving way possible.  Painful yes, but loving at the same time. 

He proceeded to show me who I was and what I was to do.  He also revealed to me about myself, my personal situation, and pointed others to me that I was to pray for and minister to.  Most importantly, He established in my heart and mind a personal knowledge of Himself that was overpowering and redeeming.  I began to feel the immense pain being replaced by immense joy, as Jesus continued His revelation unto me.  My responses to Him, also changed, in that I promised I’d respond and obey Him in a way that I’d never done before, not only because of the threat of eternal punishment, but also because I was experiencing the fullness of His love and forgiveness to a rebellious soul such as I. 

This confrontation with Jesus, this revelation from Him, allowed me to truly meet Him personally on a one to one basis.  In actuality, my experience is the similitude of what the endowment is about, when God’s Spirit is poured out upon all flesh here in ZION and elsewhere. 

In conclusion, I thank my Father in Heaven and my Lord Jesus Christ for this experience with Him.  Finally, I see clearly and have experienced personally the true Jesus of the Scriptures.  I know now that all must meet this Jesus, if there is to be a ZION, if indeed the love of God is to be demonstrated among His people.  Such a confrontation with Jesus is both healing and redeeming.  One’s soul is freed from his sins by the power of His love and the truth of His revelation, free to look to the hope and promises of these last days. 

Richard Boyden

Independence, MO 64055

816-461-6666 - 816-352-7999