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A CHANGE OF CELEBRATION
The writer recalls a new years eve celebration, seeing in the new year with friends, on a heavy drinking binge in a local pub. On the first morning of 1998 I awoke in my bath, after taking a heroin overdose. A couple of friends told how they had carried me down stairs and put me in the bath. My lips had gone purple as I kept slipping in and out of consciousness.
Two years later I spent my time seeing in the year 2000 praying with a group of christian friends in a house in Scotland. WHY? In April of 1999 a major change took place in my life. After the death of my grandfather who was a devout christian, God spoke to me, and I for the first time realised my need as a sinner before a holy and righteous God. There is none that doeth good no not one, Romans 3v12. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3v23. The Lord Jesus said "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" Matthew 9v13, I realised that my life of heavy drinking, drug taking and music left me with a complete void and emptiness inside. I was aware that there was life after death and if I died in the state I was in I would go to a place without God and without Christ. If I didn't want God in my life I obviously wouldn't have Him in my death, which meant I would go to a Christ rejectors grave. It became obvious this place was hell of which the bible says "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20v15
BE SURE YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE
On the 22nd April 1999 I awoke at 7.00 am. I had been in the country for my grandfathers funeral the previous day. I had to leave my house to catch a plane to Berlin where I was working at the time. However I was still troubled about my soul and what would happen should I die in my sin, I turned to a bible and read a verse, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8v36, 37. I began to tremble, suddenly realising that my never dying soul was of more importance than all the riches in the world. God was speaking to me and I felt a deep conviction of my sin, I realised I had to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered on the cross that I might go free. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1v15. I then thought of another verse I had read in the bible, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and 1 will give you rest Matthew 11v28. It dawned on me how wearied and heavy laden I was in all my sin and I turned to the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Getting down on my knees I asked the Lord Jesus Christ into my life and prayed for forgiveness from all my sins. At last I had found real peace, for I knew I had peace with God. The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John l v l. Through simple faith and trust I was saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10v13
PEACE AT LAST
From that minute on I knew I was on my way to heaven, I no longer had need of alcohol, drugs and all the other things I had previously abused trying in vain to fill the void in my life. The pleasures of this passing world had lost their appeal. Many of my friends said that I would come round and that I had "lost the plot". Time has told that the Lord Jesus Christ has done wonderful things for me and I have something far better than empty pleasure, a wonderful Saviour in the Lord Jesus Christ who gives everlasting life and real peace to the soul.
Dear reader in this fast living, pleasure seeking world of greed, immorality, drinking and drug taking, there is no lasting joy. The only real joy and peace is found through the forgiveness of sin, peace with God and knowing that the soul is ready for heaven.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer, He died on the cross that you might be saved. By turning in simple faith and trust to him you can have salvation. It's a free gift from God if only you will accept it. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6v23. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. II Corinthians 6v2
Preserved by Jesus when my feet made haste to hell
And there should I have gone
But thou dost all things well
Thy grace was great, Thy mercy free
Which from the pit delivered me
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