Why does this man keep popping up in my life? More important question is who is he? He keeps showing up in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times.

The first time I can recall is the day I was born. I know what you are thinking, no one remembers when they were born. I remember hearing his voice. I remember him telling me I was meant to be here and that he would be here to help me walk through this life. He told me what a wonderful and amazing person I was. Don’t ask me how, but I do remember.

I didn’t think about him for many years and apparently he didn’t think he had to be in my life. He was never where I was. He was never in my thoughts. I never heard his voice.

Then one day when I was sixteen he appeared out of nowhere. I had just got my driver’s license a few months prior and on this night I was at a party. I had been drinking and having a good time and was about to leave. I walked to my car and saw someone standing by the driver’s side door. As I approached him he just smiled. I asked who he was and what he thought he was doing. He said give me your keys, you aren’t driving tonight. The voice sounded so familiar but I couldn’t place it so I laughed and said I don’t know you, why would I give you my keys? He just looked at me and whether it was the love in his eyes or his smile I gave in and gave him my keys. I lived through that night because of him.

Of course I forgot about him over the years until the night I crashed my car. Crashed is probably not the right word to use. I totalled it. I don’t know how he got there. I didn’t see him but I immediately recognized his voice again. He pulled me out of the car and dragged me to safety. The police couldn’t believe I was alive. The only part of the car that wasn’t demolished was the driver’s seat. I didn’t have a scratch on me.

I started searching for him then. How was I supposed to find one person in a world full of many. I prayed, what little I knew of praying, for him to come back into my life. I could not believe that he was only there in the bad times of my life. That he somehow was my protector. Why couldn’t I find him?

Many years later my wife left me. I was in a bad place. I was angry. I was sad. I was drinking. I started hanging out with the wrong people. I was in a whirlwind of despair. It was in the deepest gutter in the darkest alley in the darkest street that he appeared again. He held out his hand. I stared in disbelief. He said come on, this isn’t where you are supposed to be. Let me carry you home. I took his hand but said I had no home. He told me he talked with my wife and she is at home waiting for me.

My wife and I reconciled and she wanted us to start reading the bible together. We did some devotionals but they only brought me pain. It seemed like every single devotional was about marriages falling apart. I couldn’t see the message of hope in each one.

I took a walk in the woods and there he was again. He asked if I remembered him. How could I forget? You have been there every time I needed you. He told me he always will be and started to walk away. I yelled, hey what’s your name? When can I see you again? How can I find you? He just smiled and said you’ll find me in time. Until then, I will keep finding you.

My wife asked me to go to church. She had been going by herself and said it was really touching her. So I went. THERE HE WAS. Right in front of the church. Nailed to a cross. I was confused. How could this be the man who kept appearing in my life? It was time I learned more about this man. It was time I gave my life to this man.

Many years later as I was on my death-bed and he was there again. Giving me comfort. Giving my family comfort. This man whispered in my ear it was time to come home. This man was always there, from birth to death and all the times in between. When I didn’t see him, when I didn’t want him, didn’t think I needed him, was too ashamed to come to him, was too proud to ask him, was to full of hate to love, was too scared to trust him, when I wouldn’t give, when I wouldn’t help, when I didn’t care. Through it all, this man was there.

Will you let Him be there for you?

This Man by Jeremy Camp – 

Remember IOU by Big Dismal – 

How Many Lashes by Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams – 

Rusty Nails by 7eventh Time Down – 

Were You There by Selah – 

Jesus, Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood – 

New Again by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans – 

Reason I Live by Big Dismal – 

Tell Me The Story by Todd Agnew – 

Tell Me The Story Again by Chris Rice – 

Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle – 

I See Love by Third Day/MercyMe/Steven Curtis Chapman – 

Relearn Love by Scott Stapp – 

Jesus Died My Soul To Save by Pocketful of Rocks – 

Jesus Paid It All by many, Newsboys here –