"That is the reason we have so many 'mushroom' converts, because their stony ground is not plowed up; they have not got a conviction of the law; they are stony-ground hearers." -George Whitefield

 Years ago when I was around the age of 12 or 13 I began attending an Assemby of God church near my home.  We had come out of the Baptist church and had found a new home church that my parents decided to join up with.  I was young and didn't know much about the bible except for all the Sunday school stories that I knew of course.  Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion's Den, the story of Jesus' birth and so on.  However, I can't say I really knew much about what Christianity was all about.  It got to be around Easter time that my new church, after having been there a while and my Dad getting involved with church activities, wanted to put on an Easter play together.  It was  a very good play [to a 12 yr old] and I think for the first time I saw what Jesus did on the cross so vividly....so I thought. 

After the play was over the pastor gave the invitation for those who haven't 'accepted' Jesus as their Savior.  The overall idea was in my mind that if I didn't want to go to hell that I should repeat this 'prayer' that the pastor was praying.  I did and at that moment it felt so good to know that if I had died right then and there I wouldn't go to hell.  I had the best 'fire insurance' plan EVER!  Many years went by while still attending this church I was learning many things from our pastor about how to use my faith!  There were principles that he showed me from God's word that opened my eyes on alot of issues.  I really learned alot from him. 

Well, around the time I turned 24 I got married and was begining to live on my own.  [I know, big jump from 12] My wife and I still attended this church and have been ever since.  In late 2002 into early 2003 my marriage was absolutely attacked.  I was at, I believe, the lowest point in my life.  Fortunately by the grace of God and by the love of my wife we got through it!! However, there was an issue at hand that I hadn't fully come face to face with.  This issue was the one that ALL people need to face once in their lives! SIN! I discovered through a message by Ray Comfort called True and False Conversion in 2004 that I wasn't who I thought I was in Christ.  My walk with the Lord had been shaken AND stirred. 

I found out that the prayer I repeated wasn't a genuine call unto God to save me from sure death.  I was as if a man who had cheated on his wife repeated an 'apology' written by his best friend to make things right with her.  That is not how we come to Christ!  I had never heard that REPENTANCE was the necessary key to start a new walk with God.  Repentance simply means a turning away from.  Sin is what I had never faced in the mirror of God's law.(Rom 7:7)  I needed to see myself as He saw me in order to fully understand WHY it is I needed a Savior!  Honestly, I hadn't been TRULY converted.  My heart is as the Bible says, "deceitful and wicked". (Jer 17:9) I hadn't recieved the plowing up of my stony ground heart to let the seed of God's truth to be planted in my life.  When I did finally and truly repent for all my sins God gave me a new heart with new desires.  I no longer live to please myself with fleshly things, yet I live to please the Lord of all to hunger and thirst after His righteousness! (Matt 5:6) I want to now more than ever before to preach the gospel to every creatue the good news of what Jesus really did on that cross!!  He paid my fine where I broke God's laws!! (1John3:4)  Now I don't just have 'fire insurance', I have the peace that passes ALL understanding! I have joy in knowing that I've been saved from the wrath that is to come! I've put on the Lord Jesus just as I would a parachute in a crashing plane.  I don't just believe in the parachute, I put in on! (Rom 13:14)  His gift of the parachute will save me from the wrath that is to come (Hell) as long as I have repented of my sins and put my faith and trust in the One who gave me the parachute!!

Its Jesus' imputed righteousness that saves me on the Day of Judgment!  I get to leave the court room free from the charges of sin because of the Cross!  If you are reading this right now and you don't know where you truly stand with God then I encourage you to go to www.needgod.com and find out if you are truly converted or not.  Jesus said that "heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away." Please, repent and put your faith and trust in Jesus today! Then read your bible daily and obey what you read! He promises to never let you down! You'll become a true convert in Christ and your name will be written in the Lambs book of Life!  -Eric-   www.wayofthemaster.com

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