08/23/2026
My heart grieves for those who think there is no way to peace. They give up and just end it all, thinking that’s the end. Then they realized very quickly that it’s not the end and most likely end up in a place where there will never be peace.
Oh please turn to Jesus, He’s waiting with open arms.
Here’s my testimony…
I grew up in the Catskill mountains of New York. I didn’t grow up in church. I never thought about my wrong doings as sin against God. I really thought that I would go to heaven when I died because I was a pretty good person. I really had no idea. I remember though at some point in my young adult life that I began to question my purpose. What was life all about? Was this all there is? I felt empty and small. I had met a lady, she was different. She enjoyed life. She had a great relationship with her husband. She loved being a mom. I felt like I was just surviving. She invited me to church.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was June 12, 1988. I was 20 years old. I learned that day that those “wrong doings”, bad thoughts, foul language, drinking, and so on were sins that I had committed. The greatest of my sins was not loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. How could I love God when I didn’t even know Him? I was confronted with my sin during the preaching of God’s Word. I learned that I am a sinner, just like God says in His Word. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” I had never really thought about it. But then I learned that there is a penalty for sin. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Wages = Payment, so that makes sense, though I didn’t like it. Revelation talks about this death. Chapter 20:14,15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” If you actually look at that passage, starting in verse 11, you’ll see that the people here are judged according to their works, then they were cast into the Lake of Fire. That’s pretty serious! What can I do? I didn’t want to go to Hell or the Lake of Fire! I learned that I could not be good enough to pay for my sin. Titus 3:5,6, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Thankfully I learned that Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to pay for my sins. Romans 5:6-8, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus never sinned because He is God, so He didn’t have a sin debt that needed to be paid for. He became that perfect sacrifice. That once and for all payment for sin, and all I had to do was to receive that gift, mentioned in Romans 6:23. I called upon Jesus that day! I asked for His forgiveness and I asked Him to pay for my sin. I put my trust in Him! My life changed that day. My desire now is to tell others of their greatest need, a need they may not even know they have. I didn’t know until I was shown these truths found in God’s Word - the only form of absolute truth.
I can honestly say that my life since that day has been better. Maybe not always easy, but definitely better! I have learned that the key is to keep my eyes on Jesus and trust Him with my every step. Trusting Jesus has been the greatest decision that I have ever made.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope that you will consider where you stand before God because as it says in Hebrews 9:27 that we will all stand before God and give account of ourselves to God. What will you do with the truths that have been presented to you while reading this?
