I grew up not attending church. My family did not attend any services, but I always knew that there was a God who loved me—I just did not know who He was. I was raised by parents who worked hard and played hard, and I followed in their footsteps into my early 20s. In my mid-20s, I went through some very difficult times and even questioned whether I wanted to continue living. But God had a plan for my life. In my late 20s, some friends invited me to a Baptist church that preached a watered-down gospel. Even though it was watered down, it was the first time I had really heard preaching out of the Bible, and it was comforting. Around 1998, a group of men from the church and I attended a Promise Keepers convention in Denver, Colorado. At the end of the event, I went forward during the altar call, and at that time I believed I was saved because I went forward. For years, I thought this was my salvation testimony, but something never felt right. Whenever I was asked about my testimony, I felt embarrassed and unsure. The Lord was still working on my heart, and I felt like Paul in Acts 9:5, which says, “And [Paul] said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

On a spring day in 2015, I was working alone and decided to read my Bible. As I read the Gospels, I felt God convicting my heart. The conviction of my sin was so heavy that I realized I was still an unforgiven sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” and I knew that was me. I believed in Christ, that He went to the cross, died, and rose again the third day, but James 2:19 reminded me that “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” I realized I was missing true repentance. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” In Luke 15:10, He also said, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” That day I clearly saw my sin as ugly and filthy as God sees it. I realized God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. For me to be forgiven, I needed to repent of my sins and put my faith in Christ—not just that He died for the sins of the whole world, but for my sins. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” That day I prayed sincerely, repented of my sin, and asked God for forgiveness. Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

At the time, I didn’t fully realize that was the moment of my salvation, and I didn’t record the date. Because I didn’t have a date to point to, I began questioning whether I was truly saved. Years later, I asked my future pastor how I could have assurance. He encouraged me to pray and read through the gospel of John and the book of Romans. As I prayed and studied, the Lord made it clear to me that day in 2015 was indeed when I was saved. From then on, I knew for sure that I had an eternal home in Heaven. As 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not only for saving my sinful soul, but also for giving me the peace and assurance of my salvation.