Evel Knievel was a Born Again Christian

We all know that daredevil Evel Knievel lived his life on the edge, literally. Whether he was flying across the Snake River Canyon, in a rocket-powered motorcycle, or sailing across the fountains at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, his stunts drew people from all over the world, to witness the death-defying acts.

Many times he received devastating injuries, that left him with 40 broken bones, and chronic excruciating pain. In addition, he broke his back 7 times. But nothing could keep him down. He was like Superman, and Superman is not supposed to die. But alas, even Superman dies. Knievel died November 30, 2007, at the age of 69.

In recent years, Knievel was an ailing super hero, crippled and suffering from the effects of a stroke, along with pulmonary fibrosis, he was also hooked up to oxygen tubes. At the age of 68, he said that he thought about God more than ever, and hoped that his life of indulgence would be tempered by his acts of kindness. He inspired children in burn wards, and downtrodden soldiers. "Veterans have told me that, for some reason, I made a difference in their lives, that they were headed for disaster," he said. "God, at least I have done something."

In a reflective moment, he commented about his grandmother, who raised him, "All my grandmother wanted was to talk with me and rub her feet. I just hate myself for not spending (more) time with her, and telling her 'I love you' one more time. The saddest thing is when a guy is paying so much attention to the world, and everything going by, that he can't take the time for his own mother."

Before his death, he mended his broken relationship with his son, Robbie, who described himself as "...the only one in the family who stood up to him."

Robbie said,"My dad realizes (now) that love is everything. To do what he's doing now-to have a talk with God and be loving to his family-I love him to death for it."

Knievel said in an interview with USA Today, that he thought a lot about his Creator and prayed for forgiveness.

Evel earned over $30 million in his peak years, but out of control spending on yachts and Ferraris, quickly blew his bank account. Living in the fast lane, womanizing and drinking, his health also suffered, and he underwent a liver transplant several years ago, when doctors told him that he had 6 months to live. Once again, he beat the odds.

Many people are not aware that in early 2007, Knievel went through a spiritual transformation, when he accepted Jesus as his Saviour, and was baptized, and shared a message at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. The message resulted in 500-800 people coming forward to make first time commitments, or to rededicate their lives to Christ. He told those gathered on Palm Sunday, that he had believed in God in his younger days, but he couldn't walk away from the gold, gambling, booze and women. There were many believers praying for his salvation, including his daughter, ex-wife, and their churches, along with hundreds of letters from fans, urging him to accept the Lord. But for 68 years, he resisted.

According to Christianity Today, he finally took a leap of faith. Knievel describes that day, in his own words, "I don't know what in the world happened. I don't know if it was the power of the prayer, or God himself, but...the power of God in Jesus just grabbed me. All of a sudden, I just believed in Jesus Christ. I did, I believed in Him!...I rose up in bed, and I was by myself, and I said, 'Devil...you get away from me. I cast you out of my life.' I just got down on my knees and prayed that God would put his arms around me, and never, ever, let me go."

That speaks to me of the mercy of our God. And I am glad that God used him that day to reach others, and bring them to the Lord. And yet, a part of me thinks sadly, what an even greater impact he could have made for the Lord, if he had not resisted so long.

(He's probably sliding down rainbows on his motorcycle, and jumping clouds at this very moment, giving all the angels and citizens of heaven an exciting show! But Evel's not evil anymore!)

Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-01-02-knievel-cover_x.htm
http://www.evelknievel.com/
http://www.ctlibrary.com/41881
http://www.ctlibrary.com/41881