January 20, 2006

Murray Hack's Testimony

I would like to thank everyone for honouring God by your presence today. I'm here to publicly display my love for Jesus Christ by giving my life to him.

I grew up in a Christian family on a farm outside of Rocanville. My parents both came from Christian homes. As a result of this upbringing I suffered ridicule from my classmates. I didn't retaliate and was an easy target. This dampered down during high school. In Grade 12, my one close friend drifted apart from me. I spent the majority of my last year in high school alone. I never went to parties or got into drinking and was stereotyped all throughout my time in Rocanville. I didn't realize at the time that this was a good thing :).

Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- the help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

I grew up in the United Church. I would go to church every Sunday with my family. I knew all of the Bible stories and was in many ways a Christian but I never understood how to have a close relationship with God. As I went into High School the growth of my faith had stalled.

I left for university right after High School. I ended up taking Engineering here in Regina. This was a great opportunity to get rid of my old stigma. I was very outgoing in trying to make new friends. Unfortunately none of them were Christians. I began to become influenced in a much greater way by the ways of the world and my curiousity and longing to be socially accepted. I began going to the bars and drinking but I never enjoyed it. I was just trying to fit in. I was fading in my faith as a result...

Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

In my later years in university I began to long for companionship. I hadn't had a girlfriend in high school and engineering wasn't exactly the best faculty to meet women. I became depressed. I reflected back on my life as to how I got to this point. This was a good exercise but I still hadn't come back to Christ.

I managed to get a job at SaskTel following university. I wasn't prepared for the transition. All of my friends had moved away and my coworkers were much older than me. I had to learn how to live in complete independence.

I began to focus on trying new things including sports, art, traveling, and volunteering in the community. I had learnt from my parents how to work hard and to do good things within the community.

I managed to get into a few short term relationships with non-Christian women. It felt good to be liked. I still was being lead astray. I hadn't yet realized that I was ignoring the greatest love of all.

1 John 4: 16 God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world.

At work I began to become influenced by the Christians around me. A few years ago I finally felt the need to find a church home. I had always intended to go back to church. I just didn't know when or where. A big reason why I didn't go back to church earlier is that I thought I was a Christian. I believed in God. I always had faith. I was doing good deeds. I was kind to those around me. There was no urgency as I was doing okay by the world's standards. But I was lacking the most important piece- a personal love relationship with God. I was very distant from him and yet he was all around me.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Shortly after high school my parents had left the United Church to go to the Congregational Church. There are no Congregational churches here in Regina so I had to find a new home. It was intimidating searching for a new church. I eventually settled on the Living Hope Alliance Church but God had different plans for me and I ended up here at Argyle Road Baptist Church.

Once I returned to church I would go every Sunday and became actively involved in Church activities.

I still was not in the right place with God but I was in a place where I could begin to spiritually grow again. Finally!

I was performing Godly acts but I still didn't have a personal love relationship with him. I wasn't necessarily following his will. This began to change. I began to truly love God. He opened my eyes. I now see the world in a completely different light. He began to work through me and I feel amazing! It is the greatest feeling!

I quote Henry Blackaby from Experiencing God: “God will start to make Himself known to you very simply as He would to a child. As you respond to Him in a simple child-like trust, you will find a whole new way of looking at life begin to unfold for you. Your life will be fulfilling. You will never have to sense an emptiness or lack of purpose. He will always fill your life with Himself. When you have Him, you have everything there is.”

John 3:18 There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.

I used to be in the darkness, I am so excited to be now in the light!