What I Discovered About Myself
Good News – March 2010 – Grace & Truth Magazine
What I Discovered About Myself
About this time last year some guy on the bus asked me if I thought I was good enough to go to heaven when I died. When I said I thought I was, as he left he said, “Are you sure?” The more I thought about it, the more I knew I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t real bad, but I wasn’t real good either.
Then yesterday someone sitting beside me on the bus gave me a copy of the April 2009 issue of this magazine. He said, “God wants you to read this article, ‘An Invitation To Paradise,’ and then read some more.” Then he got off. Was God talking to me through these guys on the bus? I read that article about the crucifixion, and I discovered two things about myself.
For one thing, I identified with the two criminals who hung on either side of Jesus as He died on the cross. Don’t get me wrong. I’m no criminal, but I knew I wasn’t good enough to get to heaven without lots of help. I mean lots!
And another thing, as I read about those two sinners dying on either side of Jesus, no way did I want to be like the one who mocked Him. I really wanted to be the one who begged for mercy saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus’ words struck me: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Lk. 23:42-43). Could this happen to me?
That article asked me two questions: Have I met the Savior at the cross? And have I accepted His free gift of salvation? I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure how. Then I remembered what else the man on the bus said – “and then read some more.” I did, and your magazine told me more and more about how “Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst” (1 Tim. 1:15).
Now I’m living proof of what Jesus can do – for me and for your readers. The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13). I did it, and they can too.
A Letter From A Reader
Would you like to be saved? Would you like to accept God’s free gift of salvation? We can tell you how.