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A Life Saving Tragedy
Greg was killed on his 20th
birthday, six days after mine.
His girlfriend Cara was 18.
I will remember that day until I die.
It was my wake-up call from Christ and it changed my life
forever. I’d like to share
with you just how much my life changed.
Growing up for me wasn’t easy. Chaos was
considered normal in our home. Screaming, yelling, hitting and fighting
was almost a daily occurrence.
Physical and verbal abuse was the reality, and so I chose to use
drugs and alcohol as my escape from my home life.
Shortly before Greg died my mom had begun to
attend a non-denominational church and was “saved”.
From that time on she would constantly try to talk to me about
Jesus, but I did not share in her excitement or enthusiasm about Jesus.
I chose to continue in my escape from the reality of life.
Every Sunday she would ask me to go to church with her, but my
answer was always “no”.
Finally, without my being aware, she began to pray diligently for me
until a couple of months later I awakened one morning to find that all
desire for drugs was gone, and I’ve not touched drugs since then.
Alcohol was a different story.
I still chose it as an escape from all of my hurt and pain.
I just didn’t want to deal with the realities of life, so
drinking was the easy way out for me until Greg’s birthday.
It was at his funeral that I came face to face
with death, and at such a young age. I knew a little bit about Christ
and Heaven and Hell, but one question rang loud in my head, “Where will
I go when I die?” I knew that I wanted to go to Heaven, but I didn’t
know what I had to do to make that possible.
At the same time I knew that I’d better find out, because we just
never know when our last day on earth will be.
I later found myself in a church that was
quite different than what I was used to.
I heard the Pastor speak, “We are all sinners, each and every one
of us.” (Romans 3:23 “For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”).
And then he went on to speak about “Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
who came to earth, died on a cross, and was raised from the dead, so
that all of our sins would be forgiven, and when our time on earth is
finished, we will have a home with Him in Heaven forever more.
(John 3:16 “For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes
in him will not perish but have eternal life.” )
Jesus loves us that much!
If we will confess our sins to Him, and ask
Him to be our Savior and Lord over our lives, and believe it with all
our heart, Jesus Christ will forgive us for all we’ve ever said or done
and give us a fresh new start in life. He
so wants to have a relationship with us! He knows all about us, and He
wants us to know all about Him.”
As the Pastor continued to speak, my whole
body was on fire (not literally) but I knew how it would feel before you
could humanly combust. He
said, “If anyone wants to make that decision to receive Jesus, so that
your sins be forgiven, come forward to the altar.”
I wanted to go forward so bad, but I froze!
Everything within me was screaming “Go Forward, Go Forward!” but
I just stood there, frozen to the spot, looking around at all of the
other people, I was so
afraid of what they would think of me that I didn’t go forward.
After the church service ended, we went home
and I didn’t speak a word about what had happened.
However I did go back to the same church the following Sunday and
once again the Pastor spoke of God’s plan of salvation.
As he spoke I was once again consumed
with what felt like a fire burning inside of my body.
I later found out that it was
the work of the Holy Spirit deep within me.
The Pastor spoke from Revelation 3:19-21
“Those whom I love I rebuke (scold) and discipline. So be earnest
(sincere), and repent (be remorseful). Here I AM!
I stand at the door and knock!
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and
eat with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right
to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my
Father on his throne.”
The Pastor went on to ask, “Will you answer
the door to Jesus or ignore Him?” So
I opened the door of my heart to Jesus.
I quickly went forward to the altar and was led in a prayer
asking Him to forgive all my sins, be my Savior and be Lord over my
life. My life has never been the
same since!
It
all happened because of Jesus, the blood He shed and the undeserved
grace and mercy He gave to me so freely.
And all of those people I had been so afraid of rejoiced,
including Heaven, as I accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation.
(Luke 15:10 “I tell you there is
rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.”)
Also, I know now, without a doubt, that when I
die I will be in Heaven with Jesus forever, and you can know that, too!
Jesus loves you and so wants to
bless your life here on earth.
And when your life on earth is finished, it is His desire that
you be with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Nevertheless, this is a decision that you, yourself, must make,
and it will be the most important decision you will make in your life
time for it will determine your destiny.
It is my prayer that you will open your heart
and choose Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life.
If you are willing to open your heart and choose Jesus, this
little prayer will change your life forever if you pray it with all your
heart.
“Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for every sin I
have committed in my life. I
confess that I am a sinner and I need You to save me.
I repent of all of my sins!
I do believe, with all my heart, that You suffered and died on
the cross for my sins, and You were raised three days later so that I
might live with You here on earth, and also in Heaven, for all eternity.
“Jesus, I open the door of my heart to you now
and invite you to come in, be my Savior and be the Lord of my life.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit
and then lead me and guide me in the way You would have me to go.
I want Your best for my life.
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me while I
was still a sinner and bringing me to Yourself that I might have
salvation.” Romans 10:9 says,
“If you will confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Hallelujah!
God’s blessings
to you,
Susan Evans
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