While bonded in Christ for 45years
First John Five Thirteen teaches that
all must know that our sins have been
forgiven. The biblical interpretation
calls all Christians to an awareness of
their sin; and the need of repentance,
while running to the shelter of God on a
life giving exchange of their sins,
for a Life-In-Christ. (See Proverbs
18:10) You must seek the Lord with all
your heart, while he may be found. Then
you must make a decision! Should I
trust Jesus completely and commit my
life to him, or is there another
way? Jesus said, I Am The Way, The
Truth, And The Life, and no one comes to
the Father except by me…John 14:6
My
Personal Testimony
Since I first had a conscious awareness
of God, I can testify that I always
believed and loved The Lord Jesus. But
even so, I can tell the world that for
the first 41 years of my life I was lost
and headed straight for hell, while
believing with all my heart that I was
going to heaven. I was baptized and
went through confirmation. Inwardly I
thought I was a good person. There is a
way that seems right to man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs
14:12 Thought I trusted in Jesus, but it
was on my own terms. (I trusted in my
thoughts and not in Gods Word) I went
to church and was a church member.
One day, while I was operating my
tractor (skid-loader), I committed a
careless mistake, which trapped me and
was crushing me between the tractor and
loader. Between life and death! I
couldn't breath. I couldn't yell for
help. I was all alone and dying. All I
had was a few last thoughts before
leaving this world. I never had a
relationship with God. I had never
recognized my sin or the penalty of it.
Then: I thought of my wife being left
alone to raise five boys, the oldest of
which was ten, I become very sick
inside. A disgusting feeling came over
me and I condemned myself for being so
careless. When I thought of my wife
being pregnant with our sixth child,
(due in two months) I managed these
thoughts. Let me say goodbye although
the tractor was shut off, suddenly all
the pressure against me released and my
right arm became free. I reached for
the key while still being crushed and
the tractor raced forward out of my
control, striking a fence, which pushed
the arms of the loader off my chest.
Soon my best friend showed up
(accidentally) and pulled me from the
jaws that would have soon ended my
life. He pulled me out into a liquid
pool of manure, leaving me lay there,
while he went to call an ambulance.
That night, after all my family had gone
home from the hospital, I surrendered my
life to Jesus Christ. I remember my
words. God, today I died. My life is
over. I ask you to let me say goodbye,
and you gave me life. So, today it
belongs to you, little did I know he was
about to show me a New Life! His Spirit
drew me into His Word. The hunger that
I had always experienced for my body, I
was now experiencing for my spirit. And
what a joy that filled me. I knew that
something more than a tractor accident
had taken place. He woke me up with
this verse--I have come that you may
have life, and have it to the
fullest--John 10:10 My zeal
continued and I began to experience the
gift of The Holy Spirit. Then I learned
and heard Jesus say to them all: If
anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself, take up his cross daily and
follow me. For whoever wants to save
his life, must lose it, and whoever
would lose his life for my sake, will
find it. What good is it for a man to
gain the whole world, and yet
forfeit his very self. Luke 9:23-25
Thy Will Be Done
However, I consider my life worth
nothing to me, if only I may finish the
race and complete the task the Lord
Jesus has given me, the task of
testifying to the gospel of God's
Grace. Acts 2:24
For I have not hesitated to proclaim the
whole will of God. Keep watch over
yourselves and the flock, which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers. Your
precious Family ,Be shepherds of the
church of God, which he bought with his
blood. I know that after I leave,
savage wolves will come in among you and
will not spare the flock. Even from
among your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them. So be on your
guard! Remember that for three years I
never stopped warning each of you night
and day with tears. Now I commit you to
God and to the Word Of His Grace, which
can build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are
sanctified. Acts 20:27-32
Romans (1:16) For I am not ashamed of
this Good News about Christ. It is the
power of God at work, saving everyone
who believes--Jews first and also
Gentiles. (V 17) This Good News tells
us how God makes us right in his sight.
This is accomplished from start to
finish by faith. As the Scriptures say,
"The righteous shall live by faith"
