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June 4, 2008
|-- FATHER'S DAY @ HEARTLIGHT -----------------------------|
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Dads, celebrate fatherhood with our collection of dad-
related articles and devotionals from Heartlight.
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
It Seems Too Good To Be True, by Steve Ridgell
He was a great athlete: All State in football and recruited to play
baseball at a major university. He had been around Christians and
church all of his life but never really connected. While in college, he
had some injuries that resulted in reliance on medication that
eventually led to substance abuse. He returned home a shell of the man
he used to be. He was a wreck physically and emotionally.
Someone suggested that he come visit with me, and he did. Over time, I
shared the good news of Jesus with him. We talked about the God who
made him and loved him. We talked about what a mess his life was …
right after we talked about how I had made a mess of my life. I shared
the amazing story of God's own Son coming to live among us. I told of
the sinless Savior who died for our sins. We talked about the
relationship with Jesus that brings us into the family of God.
I shared the call of Jesus to come and die with him, to share in his
death and resurrection. But he was not ready. He spent almost one year
processing the good news of Jesus. He had to realize he could not make
his life work on his own. He began to watch his own family try to live
out their faith. He started dating a Christian woman. He visited
worship often.
Then one night it all clicked. I wish I could tell you it was what he
heard me say, but I think it just all finally made sense. He decided to
give his life to Jesus in baptism. We got ready, and then he wouldn't
go in the water. He could not go through with it. After about one hour,
we got to the root of the problem. He just could not accept the fact
that God could forgive someone who had messed up as much as he had. So
I shared my story, his dad shared his story, a family friend shared
his. We prayed together. I could see that he had to decide if this
whole Jesus story was just too good to be true.
It is hard to believe God can forgive someone as messed up as me. But
he did ...
And that was when I knew he was about to get it. That is why it is good
news … and it is true. It does not matter what you have done, or how
bad you have been. No one is good enough to save themselves anyway. So
Jesus did it for us.
And this young man did get it, we did baptize him, and he is my
brother. Thanks to Jesus.
If you are one of those who thinks the Jesus story is too good to be
true, visit www.hopeforlife.com. Or write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.
(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing,
retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.
Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!"
This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If
you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you,
sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life,
whatever you've done, you can begin again.
You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions
about becoming a new creation.
---------
(c) 2008 Herald of Truth Ministries
RELATED LINKS:
* But I Have to Cheat...I'm Not Good Enough
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200704/20070425_cheatgood.html
* Will Somebody Please Help Me,,,
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200708/20070822_helpme.html
* Invited into the Family
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071024_invited.html
* Hope for Life!
http://www.hopeforlife.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200806/20080604_He was a great athlete ....html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SEE THE MORNING, by Chris Tomlin
Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring
easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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