How God Saved Me from Sin and Death

                I heard the priest say something about those who were not in church today going to hell. At that time my girlfriend’s mother leaned over smirking while saying, “Gee I bet you are glad you decided to come to church today!”  I decided that priest must be wrong. My family was not in church that day. We hadn’t been for years. I was fifteen years old when I decided that organized religion was a sham.  How could church attendance make me a better candidate for heaven than my parents or my brother?  There was something wrong with this picture. I did not know what it was then, but I decided I was not going to be manipulated or lied to any more. I did not attend a church service again until boot camp I was twenty one then and the only reason I went was to get out of having to work Sunday mornings. My dog tags said I was Baptist so that was the service I went to. It seemed like the same old story to me. Religion was nothing but a show.
                Marisha began asking me questions about six years later. She had not been to church much as a child. I could tell that she was thinking about some deep things. Her questions led us to the Bible which offered little help because we could not understand it. Two young ladies showed up at our door one day offering to help us understand God’s plan for us. I figured this would meet Marisha’s needs while I was away at work. They were nice Mormon girls but Marisha began to cry when they left asking me to please cancel the meeting. I did so soon after. 
                I heard a noise at the front door one day that same Spring. Nothing but a door hanger greeted me when I opened the door. It was an invitation to the Grand Opening of Liberty Hills Baptist Church.  I shook my head and gave the propaganda to my wife. Maybe this would help her social life. She began asking other neighbors if they were going. I agreed to go and check it out after hearing that others were also planning to go. When the day came, none of our neighbors were there. We met some of the most amazing people. They genuinely cared about us and welcomed us to their gathering. The preacher went on about this being Christ’s church and what not. What I remember most is the love and interest those people showed toward us. I wasn’t good enough for this crowd. They said they hoped to see me again. I felt guilty when I lit a cigarette in the parking lot on my way home.
                I accepted the pastor’s challenge to read the Scriptures for myself. He stopped by a couple of weeks later and asked me two questions.  Do you know where you would spend eternity if you were to die today? On what authority do you base your opinions? The second question was asked more than once. I soon came to realize that I was my own authority. He challenged me to read the gospel according to John so we could discuss it the next week.
                I remember being puzzled by the apparently obtuse disciples who were supposed to be giants of the faith to whom we owed so much reverence. I began to see the virtue of Jesus Christ through the way he lived and what he taught. There was a moral excellence about him that is impossible to fully comprehend. I think that is why chapter fifteen impressed me so much. I learned much that night but my life changed forever when I read that the creator of this universe wanted to be my friend.  It was not the same old story. It was not a ritual or show. It was God breaking my stony heart and saving me from my sin and the death I deserve.  The Savior who died for me was worth my allegiance. The first thing Pastor asked me was if I was ready. I said yes. I asked God to forgive me recognizing that Jesus died to pay for my sin. God saved me by his grace alone.
                I was baptized by immersion a year later on April Fool’s Day. I am sure I gave Pastor Strehlow a hard time about that at some point.  I am glad I have the Scriptures and the testimony of a changed life to assure me that I have been forgiven and cleansed by God.

May he receive all the glory and honor.

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