| I
was practicing attending of church to win Gods acceptance and love and
to get enough points to go on a trip. The most influental part of my life
happend when I once was playing pasiansa card game (with myself)
and I was not having wining results, so at one moment, what it really
influenced my life, I thought about giving my soul to the Dark side for
winning the games better. I don't know how the game went after that, but
it was not just a thought, it was a decision I made, I decided to
give my soul to the Dark side. I forgot about this event, but I had a great
problem thinking and wondering about life after death. I was uncertain,
I had no hope, I felt no purpose and I felt unnacceptable to God because
of what I did and other sins. I didn't want to be condemned. I learned
not to worry that much about the issue, pushing it aside, but from time
to time it came again, making my life very tough. I wanted to talk about
that with someone, but I didnt have enough courage to ask for help. . ..All
this happened around beginning of high school... Then I came to Arena (gathering
fair for students in SLovenia) and I met nice, confident and open people,
who were giving out free CDs to students and they invited me to come to
the weekly meeting. I thought and saw they are nice peolpe and I came to
the meeting, I came more times and I found time to open the question about
salvation or condemnation with Chuck and we had time to read a condensed
material about salvation, "HOW TO HAVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD".
I had questions, I was a bit confused by it's simlicity. It
didn't fit into what I heard in my past ( work hard or do the right things
and you will get into heaven) I couldn't refuse the grace, it is
grace and it is great to know I'm accepted by God Jesus 100 % and
I couldn't refuse to have my life yeald to Jesus, accepting Him as my Savior
and Lord of my life and I couldn't refuse to accept this gift of salvation,
meaning going to heaven after I die and not being separated from
God here on earth and eternaly. After I studied intensively about Ephesians
chapter 2, verse 8 and 9 which states: "8 For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9 not by works, so that no one can boast. " ( NIV ), I learned Jesus
died for my sins therefore my way to heaven is thru and by Him, not myself.
I accepted GOd's grace in faith: I prayed a prayer from my heart, I asked
for forgiveness of my sins and thanked Him for his gift, providing
eternal life for us. After that, I doubted if I did it right, but
then I learned from Ephesians 2, verse 8 and 9: It is a gift, so
that no one can brag. It's not the words I said, but the attitude of my
heart, the whole attitude of giving my life to Jesus Christ. Just
after I accepted Christ into my life I felt freedom, less burden, peace
in myself. I wanted to know more about this new life in Him. I started
to read more about what it means to be a Christian and about Gods
love and forgiveness. Now I enjoy life much more than I did before.
I'm sharing truth of hope with others, who don't have hope and are uncertain
like I was, before accepting Jesus Christ into my life. ... If you would
get a gift like this, would you keep it only to youself ? I hope I have
been able to clearly share how Jesus Christ entered my life and has begun
to change me from the inside.
Regards, Robert |