By Peter Kennedy“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” – Jeremiah 6:10.
Jonathan Laurie wanted to be like every other kid. He wanted to blend in. However, teachers would single him out because of his famous father Pastor Greg Laurie.
As a teenager living in Southern California, he wanted to be his own man.
At 16, a friend persuaded Jonathan into smoking marijuana. Soon he began spending a lot of time at the beach getting high on pot and drinking alcohol. As his new friends spent time with him, they would introduce him as “Greg Laurie’s son,” the very thing Jonathan was trying to escape.
At 17, Jonathan was arrested for marijuana. He confessed to his parents that he had been living a double life. His parents put him on restriction including taking away his car. Jonathan also confessed his sin to his older brother Christopher. Chris prayed for him and counseled him to get new Christian friends. Chris also confessed that he had tried drugs and found it to be a life of lies and only temporary fulfillment.
But after a few months of gaining his parents’ trust, Jonathan returned to his partying ways. For the next six years, he lived a life of deceit and lies. He became more lonely and depressed. “I had too much of the world to be happy in the church and I had too much of the church to be happy in the world” Jonathan remembers.
In 2008, Christopher then challenged him “What’s it going to take to give your life to Christ?” Jonathan did not have an answer.
Then a few weeks later, Christopher died in a car accident. Jonathan felt vacant; he had lost the only person he had been truly honest with. Soon Jonathan remembered his brother’s words: “What’s it going to take?”
This time Jonathan was sincere, he asked Christ into his life and he gave up the drugs.
Today Jonathan is a fervent follower of Jesus, sharing his testimony with others.
When we follow the Lord, our lives go so much smoother. Today in prayer, ask Jesus to give you an attentive ear to hear His Word and to act upon it.
“God never ceases to speak to us, but the noise of the world without and the passions within bewilder us and prevent us from listening to Him.” – Francois Fenelon
God’s Word: “You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.” – Isaiah 42:20. (C) Peter Kennedy
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