Life Changing “Explosions” Often Happen When We Least Expect Them
Life is full of unexpected things happening every day. Often our plans or expectations aren’t what actually happen. Some of these things can be pretty big.
Something that you can count on is big explosions in James Bond films. So big in fact that the James Bond movie, Spectre holds the Guinness world record for the largest film stunt explosion. The explosion took 2,224 gallons of fuel and 73 pounds of explosives.
Granted this film stunt explosion was planned for and expected.
An unexpected explosion that would hold the Guinness record if they had been around when it happened, is Jesus coming back to life after being dead and buried for three days.
In Matthew 28:1-10 we’re told, …suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead. The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would.”
This unexpected explosion was so big and powerful that we can still feel it today.
Another unexpected life changing “explosion” happened in a prison in Burbank California.
Casey Diaz grew up in a dysfunctional family as drugs and alcohol took control of his father. He was surrounded by abuse and violence. This was not only in his home but on the streets. “It was broad daylight and a guy in this alley parked his car, walked over to three guys … and gunned them down, all three of them,” Casey said.
Because of this environment, Casey’s view of life became ‘cheap, and harming or hurting someone wasn’t a big deal.’ At the age of 11, he joined a gang that led him to total ruin. According to Casey, it was the beginning of a rough road to violence.
At 16-years-old, Casey committed murder.
Being in prison did not stop Casey from participating in gang activities, he still continued his lifestyle as a savage gang member, and he ended up in solitary confinement.
A woman from a Baptist church started to visit the prison and asked if she could approach the cell where Casey was.
“She came in there and asked the guards to approach my cell,” Casey said. “She said, ‘I’m going to pray for you. I’m going to put you on my ‘hit list.’ I’m going to pray for you. … and Jesus is going to use you.”
At the time, Casey never imagined he would have a life-altering experience with God that would radically transform his life.
“I had a moment where Christ made Himself very real in my cell,” he said. “I knew for a fact that I had sinned before God. That became the pivotal point of change for me.”
Now describing himself as a born-again Christian, Diaz was nearly 24 when he emerged from prison with a story of how faith changed his life, and he has been sharing it with nationwide audiences ever since, while mentoring at-risk children.
In a conversation with The Crime Report, Diaz discussed how law enforcement, parents, churches, and educators can work together to disrupt the violent gang culture plaguing communities in Central America and throughout major U.S. cities, the importance of positive male role models for youth, and why his story might help transform today’s youth.
Casey’s life changing experience was not something that he planned for or expected. It came about because one lady was willing to go to him and pray for him. Then the aftershock of God’s explosion that happened over 2000 years ago passed through Casey and is still spreading.
Embrace God’s explosions in your life and share the aftershock with others.
