The Lord Jesus became real and living to me in early 1994 during my freshman year of college in a men’s dormitory one evening at a denomination’s Bible study session I was invited to. At that time, I was highly into the partying life. I had entertained many lofty ideas of becoming a great music producer who’d “win the favor of the world” while being educated and open-minded enough to become a well-balanced, all-inclusive person who needed nothing from anyone. I thought these things would fill up my lack inside and bring me true happiness. Really, I was bound, vain, blind, and miserable.

During the Bible study, I was asked to read Romans 5:6-10. I read them in a carefree way with no other intention than to engage in an interesting discussion about mankind being sinful and Jesus dying for man’s sins. I already knew and agreed with those facts, having grown up in a Christian home with parents who loved the Lord and taught us the Bible. This time, however, the Lord quietly drew me and saved me through Romans 5:10 which reads: “For if we, being enemies of God, were reconciled through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled.” “Enemies of God” pierced my hardened heart and shone light into my darkened conscience. I really didn’t want to think or believe I was an enemy of God, but I couldn’t hide from this One who came to me and spoke within to me twice, softly, yet absolutely, “This is you”. I turned within and asked, “Lord, is this You?” The Lord Jesus immediately responded with His life and light within my spirit showing my dead condition but in a very sweet, merciful, and living way. He gave me His life to kill my death. There was nothing for me to say or do. All I could do then was open my whole being to the Lord to come into me as the Life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45) He saved me and made me alive in Him by coming to me through His Word. My search for reality had ended and I didn’t want to let Him go. Everything I read about Him in the holy Scriptures from then on became real and living to me because of Him living in me as my life and life-supply.

In late 1994, as a sophomore in college, I was mercifully shown the reality of the Body of Christ after meeting with other dear believers in denominations, non-denominational, and independent free Christian groups, based upon “feasting” upon 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 where Paul dealt with the Corinthian believers about not having divisions. I was brought to some believers’ homes in the town where I was going to school and the surrounding region who just met as the church. It was so simple: One church, one city. All the believers in Christ share the oneness of the Spirit being members of the Body of Christ. These dear lovers of Christ just shared in a normal way their experiences of the Lord in their daily living, one-on-one, in small groups, in home meetings, in Lord’s Day table meetings, and at huge conference gatherings. The life of God was just flowing out through them. They were just people living normal lives while loving the Lord. There was a rest and a resounding amen in my spirit giving me rest from wandering from place to place looking for the oneness of the Body.

Meeting with the local churches ushered, and is still ushering, me into taking Christ practically as my living instead of taking Him for a mere outward standard to imitate. My experience in fellowshipping and participating in Christ with the local churches has only become sweeter as the days go by.

Marcus D’Angelo Leslie

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