This is the story of what I consider the most significant event in my life.
It's when I foundforgiveness and peace with God.

I grew up in a home where my parents took me to church, disciplined me and cared for me, but as I grew older, I grew more and more sinful . Earlier in my childhood I had heard about Hell and I was afraid to die, but I couldn't find an assurance of being saved. I had tried various things. I responded to what's called an "altar call"; I got baptized; I read gospel tracts and prayed the prayer at the end, but nothing had seemed to work. The matter was pushed more and more to the back of my mind as time went on and I grew more and more sinful.

After several years there was a time in my life when I was disappointed and sad over what I had become. I felt very ugly on the inside. I knelt beside my bed and asked God to forgive me of my sins and to save me. I was so surprised by the load of guilt that was lifted from me and the peace I felt. I think I was even concerned that if I went to sleep I might wake up and this new found peace might all be gone. But it was not just a feeling. I was changed. I'm a different person today because of what happened to me then - twenty-two years ago.

The writings of the Bible say that I was created to glorify and enjoy God, but before this happened to me, I was angry and sad in my self-centeredness and rebellion. But now, though I'm still a work in progress, I love and enjoy God, and delight in his law. How do I account for this change?

Paul, one of the men whose writings are collected in the Bible, said that the power of God to save me from what I was, and to make me into what He is now making me - that is the power of the gospel. Here's how Paul described the gospel in a nutshell:

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"

How could you also know the power of the gospel? You have been created for God. If you have disregarded God and his ways; if you have sinned and become unrighteous, turn from your empty ways which lead to death and awful judgement, and call out to him. He will save the one who casts himself on Him for mercy. As Paul also said,

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

Then in the power of the gospel, live for him who died for you. This is true life and for this you were created.

Will

willandsusan@gmail.com