...REALITY... part 2

Kathryn came often up to the village to check on me and offered to take me to visit Stephen. During the drive both there and back we discussed why I was living in Switzerland. I told her that we yielded our lives to God's service and that a door had opened with this job opportunity and it was our desire to share our faith in the LORD and the truth found in the scriptures concerning him. I believed that she was one of these whom God had chosen for us to meet. She was surprised that God would do this...send people like us, just for her? She was very receptive and began to understand as she thought upon my hospital stay and our talks while I was admitted under her care.

Each time she came to visit, the LORD manifested his love to her and ours as well. We became good friends. She told me some time later...that she only intended to visit me a few times because she felt sorry for me living in a foreign country with the language barrier and no family present, but that God had been working in her heart and she knew our sincerity towards her was real.

We began to do a study together in the book of Romans. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to share with her my testimony of salvation. It was in this very book of the Bible that I found true salvation.


Since the chapter title here is Reality...it is only fitting to post My Testimony as well. It was a point of Reality that helped me understand my dilemma of sin and also my putting off a vital decision in life. This is what I shared with Kathryn.

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MY TESTIMONY

I was raised in "religion" and had no peace, no assurance of heaven, no place to take my fears. Did memorized prayer help? no. As I child, it troubled me greatly when someone died...

"Where did they go?

I was so moved by the death of a young woman posted in the paper that I cut out her photo and prayed for her. I was also exposed to many people dying...in grade school several of my classmates siblings died...one at birth, one a drowning, one hung accidentally, one in an auto accident, another elder schoolmate died from a health problem and yet another young man committed suicide. I was deeply troubled over this, but, with most people...time went on and I became immune to the affects it once had on me. As I matured I also stopped going to church. There was nothing in this church worth going to...a weekly ritual that did nothing for me. A formality from my youth.

As I approached the age of 19 the LORD in his perfect timing desired at this time...to give me the true Gospel of his Son...the LORD JESUS CHRIST...found in the scriptures.

The LORD brought a young man along my way...a Bible Believing Christian. I say this since I knew many church going people up to this point..but none who impressed me as he did.

Let me explain: Another issue in my life was a lack of trust in people. To often I had been heartbroken...over many different reasons. When I met this young man via some elderly friends coxing the meeting...I was leery. I went ahead and obliged to a "date" that turned out to be my first exposure to the TRUTH of Bible Scripture. This young man's first conversation with me...was his testimony of faith in the LORD. I was awe struck with his sincerity and taking the time to read the Bible he had with him! This was not an ordinary "date"..this was special. He showed me the sincerity of his care for my soul. I listened...and we dated again..and I listened...dated again..and I listened....the Bible being read and faith explained. Yes, he took me to the book of Romans chapter 5. I remember distinctly being amazed at the truths I was reading and had longed for to know...YET...I did nothing with it.

A few months passed and I was in an automobile accident. Very strange circumstances that would make for a long story. (maybe this part will be in my book..Lord willing).
I should have died in this accident, but by the mercies of God, I did not, nor was I even injured. However, I realized that night, I could have died in my sins. I knew the Bible verses in:

John chapter 8 verse 24... I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

I had "heard" of Jesus Christ...but it never became so very personal...to truly believe who HE is...The SON of GOD as MY Saviour.

I John chpt 1 verse 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

REALITY came to me that moment realizing that I had unconfessed sins in my heart...

James chapter4 verse 17 says: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

.. and though I had read the Bible and listened, I had done nothing with this knowledge. I then began to recall the many talks I had with this young man concerning faith in the LORD Jesus. His death on the cross of Calvary..for me.

Romans chapter 5 verses 12, 17-19 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(this one man being Adam)

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Verses 7-11 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for good man some would even dare to die.
But GOD commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we now have received the atonement.

Romans chpt. 5 verse 1 -2 became my favorite verses.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.


This night of my accident, I became a Born Again Christian. I knew that my life no longer was my own... I had been bought with a price...the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.

I determined in my heart that night to live for him. The peace that flooded my soul can only be explained by this saving faith. I now had the assurances that I desired and I knew heaven was to be mine one day.

After this day, I began to read my Bible and attend a church that I knew preached and taught the Bible. And as the scriptures promise...he giveth understanding unto the simple and I began to grow in understanding of God's Word. How wonderful to know God and who he is and why he performs as he does in the lives of mankind.

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...and so my testimony explained... WHY? ...giving hope to others is so vital and worth some of the sacrifices people make. She asked me...

"Do you really believe God sent you here...for me?"

" Yes, Kathryn, I do."