"This Was Your Life"

I was scared. The back of the booklet said that I needed to believe in Jesus in order to escape the flames of hell, so I prayed to God and asked Him to save me. I didn't know exactly what I was doing. I just knew that I needed some help from God to stay out of hell. It was like following the instructions on the back of a cake mix--I wanted to go to heaven so I followed the instructions. I didn't understand that being saved is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ--but that's all right, God met me where I was at, and in time, He perfected my understanding.

I was not reared in a Christian family, but I went to church every once in a while, said grace, and recited "Now I lay me down to sleep..." before going to bed. I'd pick up the Bible every once in a while, but I got sleepy or bored every time I tried to read it. I went through my life living like most other people in this world do. I had opportunities to pursue Jesus, but chose not to--Satan was my lord. Most of the things that I found fun and exciting, I now reject as unholy. I did what I wanted to, but was never completely comfortable with the wild life I was leading. I know the Lord took my prayer as a child and kept me from being completely sold out to Satan.

During one semester in college I had an Anthropology course that said humans are descended from apes, a Philosophy teacher that said God does not exist, and a Humanities teacher that called the Bible a myth. For the first time in my life I was confused about God. Even though I didn't really read the Bible, I believed that God was somewhere in the background. These people were telling me that He did not exist. One day I wondered to myself, "Why do I believe in God? Is it because my parents told me about Him?" I didn't know that God heard me and that He was going to answer.

A few years later, I graduated from college and went to work. One day as I passed the desk of a co-worker, I saw a booklet entitled, "This Was Your Life" lying on her desk--the same tract that I found as a child in Guam almost 20 years earlier! It was like seeing an old friend. I asked if I could borrow it and she said yes. I greedily read it and eventually ordered other tracts for information. Soon after, I began to read the Bible like there was no tomorrow--the television in my apartment wasn't even plugged up, I was too busy reading God's word.

The Lord Jesus showed me a lot of things. First of all, He cares about me and everything about me. He desires to be my everything. He also showed me that He loves me and just wants to be my God. The Lord is holy and I, as His child, should be holy too. I learned that a life of holiness is wonderfully fulfilling. Now that the Lovely One, Jesus Christ, is my Lord and my Savior, why would I return back to filth and vomit I once had? I am not going back. God does not want anybody to go to hell, but He will not let you in heaven without repentance and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

When you make the wise decision of acknowledging Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He makes you everything He created you to be. As David said in Psalm 23,"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." As a child of God, you are joint-heir to everything that the Creator of the universe has, yet you are to be the humblest and meekest of persons. This is a great paradox to the natural man, but so easy to fathom when walking in God's love.

After I started to walk with the Lord Jesus, my life completely changed. One day an old acquaintance called me up. We were on the telephone about 30 to 45 seconds when she said, "Tracy, what happened? You been born-again or something?" I was glad to hear from her and I wasn't trying to sound differently so I was surprised by her comment. Can you see how God can change even your conversational style?

I used to think, "I'll serve God when I get old like Grandmama." I am so glad that that didn't happen! Why is it that we want to give all our good years to Satan and then give the leftovers to the Righteous One? I used to think that serving God would be such a bore. How wrong I was! My life is more exciting than ever. I talk to God and watch Him answer prayer; God communes in my heart and leads me; I read the Bible; work with young people and adults; travel; give biblical counsel; help people; serve as webmaster for my own website (the Lord showed me how to do this); fulfill roles as wife, sister and daughter.

Some famous people in this world have called Christians losers. In the sense that they mention, I am a loser because I don't enjoy their perversions--drugs, adultery, fornication, addiction, pornography, perverse language, evil imaginations, rebellion, lawlessness, pride, lewd television, and movies. Not because I am so good (I used to enjoy the things of this world), but because Jesus Christ redeemed me from sin. So when I sin, I certainly don't feel good about it. I try to avoid it everyday. Things that I do enjoy are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, mercy, and patience.

If Jesus took a sinner like me and made me clean, He can do the same for anybody willing to renounce their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow Him. Repent ye, and believe the gospel. The following scripture has been placed on my heart of late:

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:19, 21