She was seven years old in a tiny, country church as she made her way up to the front at the end of the service. Her mother prayed with her to receive Jesus as her Savior.
He was 21 in a meat cooler wrapping fish when he prayed the prayer of surrender. His grandparents were evangelists and he had asked Jesus into his heart when he was a child, but he had become the prodigal. He gave his life back to Jesus in that one simple prayer.
She was a good person, a straight "A" student and one of the kindest people you could ever meet. After she went to college she mailed a letter to her best friend that had prayed for her for years, telling her that she now had a personal relationship with Jesus.
Three stories, all very different; yet, all the same. They all made the same decision that changed each of their lives.
Have you ever wondered how to make that same decision? It's really not as hard as some people try to make it.
God sent His Son, Jesus to earth to become the ultimate sacrifice; so that we could have a way out of our sinful life into a right relationship with God.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
All three people in those stories had to admit that they had done wrong things and couldn't save themselves. They admitted they needed someone to save them. They asked for forgiveness for the wrong things they had done.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
They believed and had faith that Jesus was who the Bible says He was; the Son of God and that God had raised Him from the dead.
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
They accepted salvation as a free gift from God that is not earned, but freely given.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Three people from different backgrounds, yet all connected. You see, I'm that little girl that married the prodigal and prayed for one of the kindest people you could ever meet.
Three stories with the same ending....
What's your story?