Is That You, Creature?
The Compelling True-Life Story of John Michael Keeter
It was a dark night in more ways than one. The forces of Hell had converged against me, convincing me death was better than life. In despair, I placed the barrel of a loaded gun into my mouth and put my finger on the trigger. Only one thing kept me from completing this act of suicide. It was what I’d heard a preacher say several years earlier.
I was born on July 5, 1973, the youngest of four children in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Two of the top six most popular boy names that year were John and Michael. These were my first and middle names: John Michael! However, for a time in my life, folks called me by another name. They called me “Creature.”
I was not raised in church, and I only recall going one time when I was six, on Easter Sunday. That morning, the preacher declared, “After this life, you either go to Heaven or Hell, and the only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ!” Though I didn’t receive Jesus then, that truth stuck with me for years, and that message saved my life! Two years later, a church was built next door to my house in the country. My closest brother and I went a few times just to go skating afterward, but being rambunctious and rebellious, we didn’t fit in.
We had loving parents, and a relatively happy home, however some nearby neighbors down our dirt road became “adopted” parents to us. They exposed us to many wicked activities, unbeknown to my real parents. As a result, my youthful innocence was eradicated early. At the age of nine, I began to regularly smoke cigarettes and marijuana, having easy access to both. I got drunk and popped pills both during and after school. By age eleven, it had become a way of life. Though once an honor student who had skipped a grade and avoided trouble, by seventh grade, I was expelled from school and had to go to an academy.
At twelve, my sixteen-year-old brother was badly burned in a house fire. I was not home when the fire happened, and I blamed myself for not being there to stop it. During my brother’s long stay in the Chapel Hill Burn Unit, I grew angry, bitter, and depressed. Increasingly agnostic in belief, I blamed God for allowing this to happen, and my heart grew harder. To escape reality, I turned to heavy metal music, which I loved. Music became my idol, my god. The darker; the louder; the harder it was the better! I became more and more rebellious, grew my hair long, and got body piercings.
During eleventh grade, I was expelled the second time. I never returned to school. I played drums & bass guitar in various bands during my teen years, while being a roadie for some other local bands. Despite my youth, I sometimes traveled with them and set up equipment for their shows. This culture exposed my to even harder drugs and darker sins. I visited a psychologist and various counselors but received no help.
Due to my rebellion, I moved out at the age of 16. I lived in my car for a while. Then I lived off others, including different girlfriends. Finally, I rented a house with my fellow band mates. Our house was right in the middle of town off the main street, and it quickly became party central for many acquaintances. The law was often called on us for breaking the noise ordinances. Debauchery became a way of life. Day in and day out, drugs, alcohol and partying was the norm. My motto was “Live fast and die young.”
Because I played drum and looked like “Animal” on the TV show, “Muppets,” with my big, bushy, bright red hair, and due to mispronunciation of my name by a band member with whom I traveled, I was nicknamed “Creature,” and it stuck! Everyone began calling me by this name, including my family. I had a jacket with the name “Creature” across the back in metal studs and various hats with the same. Everyone around town called me “Creature,” and some still do.
The name certainly fit, in more ways than one, for I was a miserable, lost creature. We dwelt in the dark, “Goth,” heavy-metal lifestyle that glamorized death. I often dyed my hair pitch black and wore black fingernail polish and mascara. I would get in fights on the weekends just for fun. I became involved in the occult. With my mind polluted by the drugs, the miserable music, and guilt, I was drawn to feelings of despair and seriously considered ending it all. The suicides of friends my age only increased my desire to go down this dark road. I was at the end of my rope and ready to hang myself by it.
On that dark night, I put the barrel of a loaded gun in my mouth and my finger on the trigger. The only thing that kept me from finishing the job was what the preacher said when I was six. Shortly afterward, I ended up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Though I was too young to gamble with my money, I continued gambling with my life. By day three in New Jersey, I hid myself in the hotel room and again contemplated suicide. Though more successful than ever in my goals, I was hollow inside with a hole in my soul I could not seem to fill.
In desperation, I picked up the Gideon Bible from the motel drawer and read the passages it suggested at the front. It gave me comfort and conviction. I read things that I knew were true but wished they were not. After I returned home, I bought a Bible and decided to “turn over a new leaf.”
I kicked out my long-time, live-in girlfriend and tried quitting my bad habits, I picked the books of Proverbs and James to read in my Bible, since they were short. Then I began reading the Gospel of John, because that is my name. Many verses hit me right in the heart, especially John 3:18: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Then there was James 2:17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
One day, the guitarist in our band literally dropped a book in my lap that his Mama had found in her Mama’s attic. It was called The Second Coming of Jesus Christ by Oliver B. Greene. After reading it, I came under deep conviction. I began to see the urgency of the message. For weeks I feared I would drop into Hell. I tried making every bargain I could with God, without opening my heart to Him. I wanted Him to save me on my terms.
It was Friday, June 26th, 1992, nine days before my 19th birthday. While walking to work at my third shift job in the cotton mill, the words of John 3:16, and James 2:17 came echoing through my head. The Holy Ghost spoke louder than audible words ever could. He said, “It’s now or never.” I stopped halfway up the metal staircase with the weight of the world on my shoulders. I fell to my knees in front of everyone and cried out to God, with no strings attached. I opened my heart to Him, repented and received Jesus Christ as my Lord! Instantly, the load was lifted, and peace flooded in! I had been born again!
When I stood up, I was a brand new “Creature” in Christ! To this day, people walk up to me in my hometown and say, “Is that you, Creature?!?” And I have the immense pleasure of replying, “No…a new Creature!” “…If any many be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (keeping the law), availeth anything, nor uncircumcision (not keeping the law), but a new CREATURE” (Galatians 6:15).
I visited every different denomination in town for five months looking for fellowship and instruction, and I read my Bible like a starving man at a buffet. In November, my sister invited me to Victory Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, NC, where I finally found a church that preached and lived the Bible. I was baptized there on December 9th, 1992. Eleven months after I was saved, I surrendered to God’s call to preach. Soon afterward, I went to Bible college.
Since then, God has seen fit, by his marvelous grace, to use me to preach around the country. He has given me my wonderful wife, Karen, and five beautiful children: Paula, Kevin, Stephen, Philip, and Sean. I have been in the ministry since 1993 and pastoring since 1998. God’s grace has been great and His mercy mighty. I thank Him for all He has done and could never hope to repay Him for the debt I owe. To God be all the glory!
Perhaps you are like I was, wandering aimlessly, seeking hope, and finding none. I can tell you Who alone can give it. His name is Jesus Christ. He is waiting and ready to solve your sin problem and give you life, abundant and eternal! Would you acknowledge where you are right now: lost, without God and headed to hell? Would you repent, (change your mind about you, your sin, who Jesus is) and place your faith, (depend) upon Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection? Would you receive His gift of eternal life from Him at this very moment? If so, simply bow before the Lord right now and call upon Him to save you, with no strings attached!
Pray something like this in your own words: “Dear Lord Jesus, I am pleading “guilty” before you right now! I have broken your Law and don’t deserve your pardon! Yet I believe you shed your blood and died for me. I believe you rose from the grave for me. Right now, I receive your gift of eternal life and accept your pardon that you paid for in full through your death and resurrection! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and giving me abundant and eternal life!”
Dear friend, if you sincerely called upon Christ, Jesus saved you and secured your home in Heaven! Welcome to God’s family! Please scan the QR code below to let us know of your decision and receive follow up information that will help you grow in Christ!
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