March 27, 2020 admin

The Personal Salvation Testimony of Larry Jones

I was raised in a good home. My parents attended church and ensured that I attended also. I was always “faithful” in attending, but I do not remember any of the messages. As most kids, we do not listen to the important things in life. After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Air Force to see the world and experience all the excitement it offered.

Once I left home and was on my own, I rarely attended church.  Honestly, the only time I ever went to church after I left home was during my leave, when I visited my parents.  Living on my own, I no longer felt the urge to attend church.  I was “my own boss.”  I lived the next 20 years in an ungodly lifestyle. I lived for the weekend, to party with my friends, and to satisfy my worldly desires. I never considered the consequences of my sin, as I was living in darkness and far away from God and the light of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Then, in 1992, while I was stationed in Germany, a friend of mine invited me to a local, Bible-preaching church. After regularly attending the preaching services and hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, began to understand my sinful condition before a Holy God.  My own lifestyle was condemning me! The Bible states in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”  Ephesians 5:4-5 says, “This know ye, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the WRATH of God upon the children of disobedience.”  Through the preaching of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sinful life, and I realized that I was headed for a devil’s hell! The only thought in my mind was, “I’m going to hell…I’m going to hell, if I were to die this very moment!  I have never felt so guilty and condemned!”  I could not get that realization out of my mind.

I am so thankful the Holy Spirit spoke to me that day, but most importantly, I am thankful that I responded to the Holy Spirit and decided to do something about my sin.  Once I realized and admitted that I was sinner, I humbled myself before God, asked Him to forgive me, and I repented of my sin. At that very moment, I had peace about my standing before God. I knew my sins were forgiven!

When I got home that afternoon, I cleaned out all the ungodly things that had ruled my life. I quit drinking, I stopped cursing and taking the Lord’s name in vain, and I no longer had the desire to live the way I had been living.  I instantaneously became a new person! The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore is any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When I went back to work the following week, my friends noticed a difference in my behavior. I no longer wanted to go to the club after work, and I did not care to hear them take the Lord’s name in vain. Some thought I was brainwashed, but the truth was that I was a new man! Christ was my Master now, and I desired to please Him.

It has now been 23 years since I was saved. I have retired from the Air Force and am presently serving the Lord in my local church.  If you are not saved, I urge you to consider the following: From the moment you and I were born, we were fixed with one inescapable fact: WE ALL ARE GOING TO DIE.  Like it or not; WE WILL DIE. My question today is…”What about your soul?”  Have you considered where will you be five minutes after you leave this life?

Romans 10:13 states that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be SAVED.”  This is not saying your prayers.  This is not realizing you had done something wrong and said, “Lord forgive me for that bad deed.”  This is calling on JESUS CHRIST (the Lord) for the express purpose of being saved from the penalty of your sins.  God is looking down at us right now.  He knows all about us.  He is the one we will face in eternity.  Could you tell yourself, in front of HIM, that you have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ)?

If you are not saved, I urge you to seek Him while you still have time. Allow Christ to speak to your heart and draw you to Jesus Christ for salvation. You all are only one heartbeat away from eternity!

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Grand Forks, ND 58203
Phone: 701.746.7516

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