Robert Borelli was a member of the mafia who lived a life of crime – but after spending his life in and out of prison he found himself at an inevitable crossroad.
Overcome with despair – he cried out to God to either change him – or kill him.
And in God’s incredible mercy – well, you won’t believe how God responded.
To start – can you imagine giving God an ultimatum?
For those of us who know Christ, the thought of challenging a Holy God can seem unthinkable – yet many of us do it each day without even realizing it.
We often try to bargain with God – or challenge Him to act a certain way.
And it typically happens when we’ve hit rock bottom and come to the end of our rope.
For Robert Borelli – after finding himself in prison yet again – he had finally hit his bottom and realized he had enough.
There he was – isolated in a prison cell, away from his daughter and loved ones – alone with his thoughts and forced to confront all he had done.
And it was in that moment when he desperately cried out to God.
CBN News reported:
“I knew about God but didn’t know God. I gave God an ultimatum,” Robert Borelli recently told “The Prodigal Stories Podcast.”
“I said, ‘You better have somebody kill me — or change me.’”
Wow.
Talk about an honest plea.
It is common for many people to grow up with an intellectual knowledge of God – without ever knowing Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
And Robert had never experienced the incredible love of God that comes when we put our faith in Jesus – until now.
CBN News continued:
“Around the same time, he struck a deal with the government to cooperate with officials and enter the witness protection program.
“When the government offered me that, I accepted that offer,” Borelli said.
“I could see God moving from that point in time … God was honoring the desire of my heart to get to know Jesus more.”
After putting his faith in Jesus – everything changed.
Borelli embraced his new life in Christ – and fully appreciated his second chance to do it right.
He even wrote a book called “The Witness” – testifying that so long as we are still alive – it is never too late for a new beginning.
Praise God for taking this former hardened criminal and making him a new creation in Christ.
Borelli’s story shows us all yet again the incredible and transformational power of Jesus Christ – and how the power of the Gospel can make us a new creation.
If there is someone in your life that you’ve been praying for who doesn’t yet know Jesus – don’t lose hope.
God can reach the hardest of hearts and soften them with His love.
So keep praying and hold true to His promises – and then watch Him work!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
(h/t Christian Life Daily)