"CHANGED!"
By: Tracy Roberts
As a child growing up on the island of Guam during the seventies, I found a little booklet entitled, "This Was Your Life" which told the story of a rich man who died. He stood before God who replayed the man's life and it was found that he had rejected Jesus Christ. God then banished him to the lake of fire.
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
The wilderness and desert mentioned in this verse symbolize the landscape of my old, sinful life. God miraculously made a pathway and a river in the midst of my barrenness. Hallelujah! Will you let him do the same for you? Talk to the Lord Jesus and tell Him that you repent of your sins. Ask Him to take away the guilt; tell the Lord that you believe in Him--that He died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead the third day. Tell the Lord that you give Him your life and that you'll follow Him. Then thank Jesus for saving your soul. If you have believed on the Lord Jesus, read on in the Bible about the new life. There are so many other reading sources that we can go to read about this life for Christians. As long as they are bible-based and bear witness with the Word of God, you will be safe in what you read. If you would like to contact me or visit my website feel free to do that at tracey1@comcast.net or jesus-is-lord.com so that we can rejoice together. I'd love to hear from you!
He
brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet
upon a rock, and established my goings.
And
he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it,
and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
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Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from God that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. Either Jesus Christ died for your sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to have your sins forgiven and get in right-standing with God? We plead with you ... please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To get to know God; to be at peace with God; to have your sins forgiven; to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity; to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life.
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