Greetings!
My name is Richard Wells. I am the pastor of Simpsonville Baptist Church between Gilmer and Pittsburg Texas.
Read my story and see if you find something that will help you along your way.
WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE
John 9:1–5
1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
Introduction: Who is blind? Is it a person without vision? Or, is it a person without a vision? I know that God created me exactly the way He intended. God doesn’t make mistakes. I have come to understand that there are people who will hear me because of the way I am that otherwise would not listen. I was in a certain church service many years ago. They asked me to sing a special song. God led me to sing that old song, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” He used that song to lead a man to Christ that night. The man’s wife called me a few days later and told me that her husband was moved to faith in Jesus by the fact that someone in my situation would not be mad at God and could sincerely sing that song. Through this, and other life experiences, I have caught a vision from God! It is getting more and more clear everyday. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” One thing I know, once I was blind, but now I see. That’s how I know that God is real! We could discuss the Bible, what it says and what it means all day long. But one thing you cannot argue with me about. God has opened my eyes. I was blind, but now I see! I was blind to at least three things.
I. I was blind concerning God’s eternal salvation. The Wells family perceives itself to be divided into two groups: The church goers and the heathens. I was born, the youngest of four children to one of the heathens. It was discovered that my two brothers, also born blind and I, had an aptitude for music. Our parents decided that this would be a perfect vocation for us, so they bought a piano and two guitars and away we went. We played and sang for family reunions, civic groups, churches and for anyone else who would give us money. All of that old Gospel music didn’t mean anything to me because there was nothing at home to reinforce it. After a while all of the churches caught on to this and stopped calling us. I became bitter. After a period of time, that bitterness became an open hostility toward anyone who called themselves Christian. I became an atheist. I loved to argue against the very existence of God to any church member I could get to take the bait. I would make fun of songs like Amazing grace because they talked about being blind and receiving ones sight. Then I developed an interest in astrology and numerology. By this time, I was in my teens. But God didn’t let me go too far. I was one of the first blind students in the state of Louisiana to attend public schools. When I was in the eighth grade, there was a girl in two of my classes that always tried to help me with different school related activities. Suddenly, one day, she wasn’t there anymore. After selfishly inquiring about her because of the inconvenience I was experiencing, I found out that she was gravely ill. I thought I would be nice, so I got her phone number and called to ask how she was doing. Her mom told me that she was recovering, and how wonderful it was that a youngster like me would be so concerned. Even then, the Holy Spirit was convicting me of my hypocrisy. The more she talked, the worse I felt. God had led me to a pastor’s family. Over a period of the next eighteen months, they showed me that they had something that I didn’t have: a true relationship with God. I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as the only one who could take my sins away. However, my relationship with Him was far from perfect.
II. I was blind concerning God’s daily provision. Not long before I was saved, my oldest brother had started working in night clubs at the urging of our father. He was making pretty good money. I figured that if I was going to have lots of nice stuff and a family, I would have to provide for them by doing the same kind of work. After all, what else could a blind musician do that would pay that well. So, without any prayer or consideration I proceeded down that road. A couple of years went by. Then I met a wonderful girl, and six weeks later, I married her. A year later, we had a month old child. The Holy Spirit of God never left me alone. There was always a nagging conviction that I could not continue to live a double life. Matthew 6:24 says: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” I went back and forth between these two thoughts. “On one hand, if I quit my job, we won’t be able to buy groceries. I won’t be able to pay my bills. On the other hand, if I don’t quit my job, I won’t be a good example to other Christians and to my Sunday School class.” Yes, I was very active in church, even during all of this. If I faced conviction in one church, I would just go to another. Then, I made a deal with God. On February 8, 1989, I told the lord that I would send out letters and try to do as many revivals as I could. When I had enough to do, when I was making enough money, I would quit playing in night clubs. Naturally, there were many doors that remained closed to me.
III. I was blind concerning God’s sovereign will. There were many nights when I would go strait from a revival meeting, to my job at the bar. Between all of the conviction I was experiencing from the preaching I was hearing, and something my boss told me one night, it all finally came to choices. He said, “If people stop drinking and gambling, you won’t have a job anymore.” God has a way of telling us when He’s had enough. He let me know that I either had to give the rest of my life to Him, or He would let me go my way. 1 Corinthians 5:4–5 says: 4 “In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” There are times when God gives the flesh of a saved person over to be destroyed because of gross sin. I had come to that point. God’s grace surpasses all our understanding. He preserved me for this decision. John 9:3b says: “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” On March 21, 1993, I made public my intention to leave everything else behind no matter the cost and fully follow the Lord. I don’t mind telling you, I am still in the process of learning what that means.
Conclusion: Someone has compared the life of a Christian to a blank piece of paper. Most of us want to see what the Lord writes on it before we decide if that is what we want to do. However, we must give Him our lives first. Then as He begins to write, we must carry out His plan for our lives. When God called Abraham, he had no idea where he was going. The lord just told him, get up and go to a land that I will show you. Are you willing to give your life to Christ on a blank piece of paper? Do you trust Him enough to say, Lord, whatever you write, that is what I will do? Remember what we read in John 9:4–5? 4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” I am still in the process of finding out what God has for me to do. But one thing I already know. Before I met Jesus, I was blind. But now, I see. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
If you have not yet met God, contact me at:
richwels@samobile.net
and I’ll introduce you!
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