Salvation comes at a moment of recognition and surrender. I recognized my sinfulness, my inability to get myself to Heaven, that there is one God and one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus, God's son, who came to the earth to make atonement for my sinfulness and to make the way for me to get to Heaven. He did this by living a sinless life of love, and took full punishment for my sin, and not only mine but anyone who will believe. He bore this weight on the cross and died. Three days later He proved He was truly victorious and truly the one God by defeating death and rising from the grave. He walked among us to show Himself as risen and then went to Heaven. We can be sure of His promise that He will one day return to the world for judgement. We believers will be caught up with Him in the clouds and have eternal life in Heaven with the Lord. Those who are not saved but are still alive, will experience seven years of tribulation in which they will have the choice to believe and be saved, but it comes with great sacrifice. After the seven years, Christ will throw Satan and the rest into the lake of fire in which they will remain for eternity. Blessed are those who believe but have not YET seen.
Once I recognized this, I believed it as the Truth and I surrendered myself to Him and His lordship. He filled me with the Holy Spirit who I can walk with daily to teach me, convict me, lead me, and allow me to worship. I was saved on April 17, 2005.
In August of 2005, I followed the Lord through the waters of baptism by full immersion. This was an act of obedience and a sign to the world of who I had chosen to follow.
In October of 2005, I was called to the mission field. Every believer is commanded to either GIVE or GO. I felt the Lord saying to me that I needed to give more than just my money to make His name known to people who do not yet know. He wanted me to give my entire life: money and time and energy and breath. Like God asked Isaiah, "Who will go for us, whom shall I send?" My response was, and could only be the same as Isaiah's, "Here am I Lord, send me."
It takes time and a lot of preparation was needed in my life before He could release me...before I was ready to go out in the world. He has been doing extensive work in my life and in my heart...He will only continue to change me and mould me into His image so I can effectively display His power and His glory and His servanthood to a lost world.
My mission: Show the love and teach the life of Christ to the people of Guatemala (or anywhere really) by leaving "my" life and living to serve them in their life, in Jesus' name.
*This may sound narrow-minded and exclusive. We live in a world that preaches inclusivity and open-mindedness. That is okay. There is ONE God and ONE mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus who is the (only) way, the (only) truth, the (only) life, and NO ONE can come to the Father except through Him. Christianity is exclusive, or Christ died for nothing.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -Jesus
