David Wood's Testimony

When my whole family were all still living at home, the six of us would gather around the table every evening for
dinner, and afterwards we would always have a Bible study and prayer time.

We read the passage about Lydia’s conversion in Philippi, which is found in Acts 16. After Dad had finished
explaining this dramatic conversion, and how we all ought to follow Lydia’s example, we prayed; after which
I broke down in tears. I had an overwhelming fear of dread and anxiety, and after a chat with my parents,
I understood that one day I was going to die, and all the things I had done were going to be exposed before God,
and then I would go to hell.

I hadn't realised that for me, 8 year old me, there was hope.

Matthew 10:29-31 says:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

This verse tells us that God knows the little - seemingly insignificant things - and so how much more should we believe
that he knows the largest concerns and anxieties on our heart? My Mum suggested we should pray together to ask
God for my salvation. Asking me if I  truly believed, we prayed together and asked the Lord to save me and forgive me
from every wrongdoing that I’ve committed. It was at this point that I believe I was born again.

 John Chapter 1 and verse 9 puts it simply: 
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Becoming a Christian doesn't make you perfect. To strive for a life similar to that of Jesus' should be a Christian's goal,
but this effort in itself isn't what makes someone a Christian. Also, to be overly sorrowful and mournful can't save someone,
only believing on the Lord Jesus as your personal saviour, believing that He died to set you free from your sin can is what makes
a Christian.
The hymn writer Joseph Hart summarises this nicely, in one of my favourite hymns.

  O beware of fondly thinking
  God accepts thee for thy tears;
  Are the shipwrecked saved by sinking?
  Can the ruined rise by fears?
  O beware of trust ill-grounded;
  'Tis but fancied faith at most,
  To be cured, and not be wounded;
  To be saved before you're lost.

Praying, reading the Bible and attending Church, being charitable and morally stable are all fruits of someone who has
given their life to God, but it's not enough in itself to get to Heaven. Above all else, I have faith that the Lord will deliver me,
and that I will one day sing his praises in a perfect Heaven, having conquered death through the Lord Jesus Christ.
My prayer would be that this is the same for you, so that with me you can say: 

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)