Out of Darkness

I am Stuart.  This is my story.

Throughout my childhood and early adult life, my belief in God could only be described as ‘nominal’. I had experienced some Sunday School teachings about the life of Jesus, but I couldn’t relate them to the present day.

In my early twenties I joined Freemasonry – a  secret society of men engaging in semi-biblically based rituals, with charitable ideals. Membership requires belief in a ‘supreme being’, but not necessarily in Jesus as the Son of God. Most of my working life was spent in developing and expanding several small businesses which I owned. Any spare time was mainly devoted to Freemasonry.

In 1986 my business activities brought me into regular contact with a Christian business man. It was increasingly evident to me that he enjoyed a close personal relationship with God which gave him a spiritual fulfillment which I could not understand. He explained that he always tried to put God first in his life and was committed to following Jesus as his Lord.

For my part, my businesses – and Freemasonry – came first. God was very low in my priorities.

On 14th May 1988, I realized that I needed to change my ways.  Behind the privacy of a locked bathroom door, I got to my knees and asked God to forgive me for my selfishness and pride. I admitted that Jesus had died on the cross so that my wrong-doings could be forgiven. I asked him to take control of the rest of my life.

The change was immediate and dramatic. I started to attend a local church where I met Christians who were joyfully praising God in a way which confirmed that they had a personal relationship with him, and with each other.

Subsequently, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to an understanding of the Bible which I never had before. He made it clear to me that Freemasonry is shrouded in spiritual darkness, so I soon severed all my connections with it.
I now know the unspeakable joy of relating to God as my Heavenly Father who lavishes his love upon me, cares, and provides for me. I know forgiveness for those things which I might do to offend God because I believe that Jesus died for me at Calvary. Through the Holy Spirit,I have the power to live and walk in his light.
‘God is light, in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin’
(1 John 1:5-7)

Stuart’s full story, and those of other former Freemasons, can be found in ‘Freemasonry – a Christian Perspective’  by John Lawrence published by Gazelle Books.