I came to truly know my Savior on 21 March 2010.

I grew up going to a Baptist church in my little community. My mom would drag me and my siblings to church for every service. My father would go every now and then. When I was a teen I started skipping out on services and staying home when I could. I’d sit at home with my dad and watch baseball or NASCAR. When I was 16 years old, I made a false profession of coming to know Christ, and even got baptized.

Anyone who was truly saved and knew Christ knew I was not saved. I still cussed like a sailor, drank like a fish, smoked like a chimney and had anger issues like the Hulk.

After I joined the military, my life really went into full turmoil. I stayed drunk pretty much for 16 years. I was never really labeled as an alcoholic by the doctors, but everyone knew and was OK with it. There was a time where it got so bad that I had a .37 reading at the hospital. I went to a mandatory AA meeting and laughed at the class, went home that night and drank some more. It was not just alcohol that I battled with, while in the service. I dealt with many other sins, such as false witness (lying), adultery, fornication, coveting, stealing, and not honoring my father or mother. These verses sum up my life at this time. Psalm 9:15-17 says, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Throughout all of this, God was still seeking me out. I knew it because I could see His Glory and intervention throughout my life.

God truly showed Himself by bringing my wife into my life in 2008. Mind you I was still an alcoholic, just not as bad. The first year of our marriage was tough. We were newly-married and already having a child.

But you know something? God was working in both of our lives at this time. In February of 2010, my wife started going to Bible Baptist Church. She met so many wonderful people that were true believers of our Savior Jesus Christ. She came back and was telling me all that was happening each time she went. I was still reluctant to go but she still kept asking me to come and meet these folks. I finally gave in and went with her to meet these folks and to hear the Lord’s word. One of the gentlemen said this verse to me: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). That verse got so ingrained into my memory that it seemed to be there day and night. The verses that finally drove things home for me were Romans 13:11-14: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Here I am now, many years later, knowing my Savior Jesus Christ and knowing that one day I will be able to go home and be with God my Father and walk the streets of gold and to see the mansion that is set there for me.

As you read this, I would like for you to ask yourself: “Do I truly know Jesus Christ as my Savior?” If you cannot say “yes” to this truth- fully, I would beg you to seek Him before it is too late. None of us knows when our time on this earth will be up. It is better to have peace of mind that you will spend eternity in Heaven than to say, “I hope I’m going to heaven and not hell.”

I will say this: I look forward to seeing my Father and all His glory.