It’s all because I made a serious, but yet simple decision, that I have truly found lasting joy, and I have discovered life indeed. When I was 15, a friend shared with me a few simple facts I had never heard before. She told me that in God’s Word, it shows how I could have eternal life by first recognizing my own need for God. God wasn’t asking me to clean up my own life so that He could forgive me, but to believe that Jesus Christ died to pay for the penalty of my sins against God, and that He was offering forgiveness and LIFE right then.
Knowing that my life didn’t measure up to God’s standard, I believed, personally receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and my only hope of salvation. At that very moment I became a new person in the eyes of God. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The next few years I went on my way knowing for sure that I had eternal life in heaven, but not realizing that God had also promised me an abundant life in Christ right here on earth. I let my worries, fears and discontentment of my life cloud my picture of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and may have it in abundance.” John 10:10. I longed for this abundant life.
I had much to learn about keeping Christ in focus. It wasn’t until I finally decided to let God have His way in me that I discovered that I needed to be meeting with other Christians who truly loved the Lord Jesus, and who taught and really followed the Bible. Because I had really decided to make Christ Master of my Life, I began to see real change in my heart attitude.
I began reading God’s Word and as a result, I saw that God wanted to actually speak to me directly through the Bible and that He had definite plans for my life. “‘For I know the plans that I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope!’” Jeremiah 29:11
My life began to overflow with joy and thankfulness as I obeyed and enjoyed His Word and being with other Christians. Because I was finding my delight in the Lord, I began enjoying life more abundantly. I also found that He and He alone could relieve my daily inner struggles and replace them with His peace. His promise that He’d never leave me nor forsake me helped keep me free from worry and still does now.
I write this message to you because I want you to know that Christ is offering this life freely to all. Have you received Christ yet? Have you asked Him to lead and guide your life and make you the kind of person He wants you to be? God loves you, my friend and He desires to save you, but is leaving you with the choice. Even in spite of our sin, God has not stopped loving us. Even though our sins deserved eternal death, Christ bore the punishment in full in His body on cross. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.” John 4:10
Only in Christ is salvation to be found and I pray that you will make the same decision I made and without delay. He is knocking on the door of your heart seeking entrance. He needs you to extend the welcome, so that He can come into your life and cleanse, restore and remake you, and bring real meaning, purpose, peace and joy to your life! He longs to become your intimate friend! He longs for His inspired truths to become a living reality in your life!
Since making this decision 40+ years ago, I can honestly say that God has watched over me and blessed me every step of the way, and I have lacked nothing in all this time. I have gained a wonderful husband, four wonderful children, including their spouses, as well as seven precious grandchildren and a wonderful church family. Along with this has come many of life’s unique trials and challenges, mixed with countless blessings and joys to deepen my faith, and continue to give me a greater awareness of God’s living, loving and active presence in me on my faith journey. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 118:29
In Christ’s love,
I write this,
Kathy Darling
If you would like a detailed explanation on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then visit this website: PeaceWithGod.net
If you are looking for a good, Bible based church, please consider The Rock, visit RockTheChurch.com
