Rescued

Testimony of David Ikard

David Ikard was born in New Orleans, LA.  When he was thirteen his family moved to a small town just north of St. Louis, MO.   Throughout his high school years he was a well-rounded, popular good kid.  He was enrolled in many activities such as drama, music, and wrestling.  Even becoming vice-president of the student senate could not keep David from being overcome by the sinful nature that lies in all of mankind. 

The apostle Paul wrote about this powerful lure, “I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.” (Romans 7: 15, 17)

Many today think that if they just keep their kids busy doing good things that this will keep them from harmful, life-debilitating bondages such as drugs, sex outside of marriage, depression, etc.  Even church-attending families overlook the powerful truth in Jesus’ teaching, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”  (John 15: 5,6) God has designed things in a way that  nothing works for eternal value apart from having a vibrant living relationship with Jesus Christ.

After high school David went to college to study music and aviation.  At age nineteen depression hit him hard.  In order to compensate for this he began to drink hard and take whatever pills the psychiatrist would dish out.  His depression finally reached a level that caused him to suffer symptoms called derealization and depersonalization.

At age twenty-three his best friend and roommate was killed with their flight instructor in a airplane crash.  He was the one who called his roommate’s parents to tell them that their son wasn’t coming home anymore.  This pushed David over the edge.  Amazingly he finished college, but drinking, drugs and depression continued to increase.   In April of 2002 he had a major nervous breakdown and underwent heavy sedation and even electroshock therapy - none of which worked.  He was in constant misery.

In August of 2002 he went to Teen Challenge.  It was there that the he allowed the Holy Spirit to break his heart over his sin before the God who created him.  He writes “I fell on my face before God and He has put my life back together. God has brought me out of a depression that most people don’t live through.  He has made me a conqueror through Christ.  I feel better than I ever have in my life and I wake every day knowing that the miracle power of Jesus Christ is real.”

In Romans 7 Paul writes about struggling with sin but in Romans 8 he writes about life through the Holy Spirit.   “…because through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death…  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.”  (Romans 8: 2, 9)

Good accomplishments and being popular will not rescue you from the sinful nature.
Jesus Christ can!