What Has Gotten Into You?

Good News – February 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

What Has Gotten Into You?

Lee Strobel, an award-winning journalist, asked his wife this question when she started spending time with Christians and confessing Jesus Christ as her Savior. He added, “Surely, you don’t believe in all those fairy tales.”

A few months later the words again came to his mind, this time they were unspoken: “What has gotten into you?” Lee Strobel saw a marked difference in her. She was more loving towards him, and more considerate and helpful.

It made him think of his own life, how he had been bad tempered towards one of the junior members of his staff. He thought: if there is a God one day he would be held accountable; if not, his bad temper would not matter very much.

An unbeliever may be a liar, thief, drunkard or worse. Or, an unsaved person may live an upright life. Either way, everyone has sinned and therefore needs the Savior (Rom. 3:23; see Jn. 14:6). When salvation comes to a person, he or she is taken from under the judgment of death and brought into eternal life (5:24). Having turned to Christ and now living in this new life; there is a change for the better. This is the greatest testimony for the truth of the gospel: “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15 NKJV).

The Bible states clearly, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). The hymn writer Rufus H. McDaniel (1850–1940) put it like this:

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought Since Jesus came into my heart! I have light in my soul for which long I had sought, Since Jesus came into my heart!
Chorus:Since Jesus came into my heart!Since Jesus came into my heart!Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have ceased from my wand’ring and going astray, Since Jesus came into my heart! And my sins which were many are all washed away, Since Jesus came into my heart!
I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure, Since Jesus came into my heart! And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure, Since Jesus came into my heart!
There’s a light in the valley of death now for me, Since Jesus came into my heart! And the gates of the City beyond I can see, Since Jesus came into my heart!
I shall go there to dwell in the City I know, Since Jesus came into my heart! And I’m happy, so happy as onward I go, Since Jesus came into my heart!

So what did happen to Lee Strobel’s wife? She realized that Jesus Christ died for her personally, and she asked the Lord Jesus to be her Savior, believing in Him. Lee Strobel was so impressed by the change in her that eventually he too submitted his life to the Lord.

Will you not likewise respond? Simply, truthfully pray something like this: “Lord Jesus, I thank You for dying for me. I accept Your gift of salvation. Please help me to live for You from now on.” We can tell you more.

By Ernie Bartlett, adapted fromAlive!, Scripture Truth Publications