How his own sin tormented him;

One day, at the end of his endurance, he tried to commit suicide.  As he stood at the side of the river, cold, hungry and lonely, ready to jump in, a little eight year old boy came up to him and said: "Mister - it is pretty cold in the water.  I have a blanket at home you can have.  It will keep you warm." 

John hesitated ... looked at the boy, and asked, "Boy - why would you do that for me?"

The boy didn't answer John.  The boy just took him by the hand and led him the two blocks it took to his house.  He asked John to sit down in the kitchen, made a peanut butter-jelly sandwich for him, and told him that he would be right back.

After a short while, the boy was back with the blanket, and gave it to John.  The boy said to John, "My mom always makes me a peanut butter-jelly sandwich when I am feeling bad."

They talked for awhile until the boy's mom came home and heard the story. 

That night, after a warm shower, John slept in a clean bed for the first time in years.  The boy's mother made an appointment for John at Set Free Ministries and drove John to the appointment the following day. 

As he talked with us, it became apparent how hurt and angry John was and the terrible abuse he suffered as a teen.  He was never shown any love, and never was told that he was important.  How his own sin tormented him; how he thought there was no forgiveness for him.  When he learned how loving and caring God is by sending His Son Jesus to this world for his (John's) sin, and that he was not responsible for the abuse that he suffered by other people, and that by forgiving other people for the sin that they committed against him through their abuse ... he just wept. 

He kept saying, "Wow - Wow," when he realized that there was forgiveness for him.  He kept saying that he felt 100 pounds lighter. 

That day John received his freedom from torment by giving his heart and all his hurt and hatred to Jesus.  We celebrated with a high-five many times over as he said: "Thank you, Jesus!" 

I could almost hear the angels in heaven rejoicing.  It was absolutely marvelous to see the change in John, from a broken man to a healed, joyous person.

Today, John has been reconciled with most of the people who hurt him the most.  He has a responsible job, and enjoys life.  He knows now how to fight the temptations that come his way with the Word of God.  He is hard at work telling others how Jesus changed his life and how Jesus can change anyone.  We give thanks, and praise our mighty God for the marvelous work He does through the Holy Spirit in people's lives like John.