A Personal Experience With Jesus

By F. D. Adkins

Now that my children have jobs, they are realizing that we have been telling them the truth. Money really is not infinite. Even though they have been told this, they now realize how long they have to work to earn money, and some of the things they would have wanted to spend money on before are not quite so important. For example, this past week we had a few days of icy road conditions. In the south, since our roads usually do not get scraped, this means you stay home. For teenagers, this is not an easy task when they have a driver’s license. When we told our teen that he could not drive and that we would all be staying off the roads, he actually checked on getting an Uber. Well, he had already learned that money is not infinite and had discovered the hard way that if you don’t have the money to cover your purchases, the bank will charge some pretty large fees. So, he made a wise decision and concluded that he could not afford it.

Have you ever had to learn something the hard way? Have you ever been given advice from an elder or a parent that has already had to learn a specific lesson, and you chose to ignore their advice? Then, a bit later you discovered that if you had only listened, you could have avoided a lot of hardship. As a parent, I find myself always wanting to protect my children from the hardships of life. However, my children are getting older. And, as hard as I try, I have found that sometimes they are going to have to learn hard lessons in life just as I did. They are going to have to learn that money has an end. They are going to procrastinate. They are going to fail tests. They are going to have arguments with friends. They are going to get heartbroken. They are going to make mistakes, even if I have warned them beforehand. And they are going to look back sometimes with regret wishing they had done something differently.

As Christians, we want the assurance that we will see our family and friends in Heaven. And, of course, as Christians, we are commanded to share the Gospel. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (KJV).

 Just like the way that we do not always heed the advice of our parents and elders, sometimes others are not receptive to us telling them about the Gospel. My children accepted Christ when they were younger, but as a mother, I still worry. I desperately want to know that my children are truly saved. I have read them devotions and Bible stories and told them about Jesus. However, to be saved, a person has to have a personal experience and be born again.

• “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 KJV

When I tell someone about Jesus, I cannot force them to have that experience, nor can I accept Jesus for him or her. Yet, if we know that someone might not know Jesus, we must keep telling them. After all, if you saw someone’s life being threatened, wouldn’t you try to help them or at least call the police? Romans 10:14 reminds us one cannot come to know Jesus if someone does not tell them.

• “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14 KJV

However, as important as it is for me to tell others about Jesus, it is also imperative that my life reflects my love for Jesus and my relationship with Him. Others should be able to see my faith through my character, my words, and my actions.

• “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV

Not only should I tell others about Jesus and show them the love of Jesus, but I should pray for them. The Bible tells us that God is patient, and He wants everyone to repent of their sins and come to know Him.

• “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

The Bible also tells us that if we pray according to His will, he hears us.

• “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” 1 John 5:14 KJV

If you are born again, then you know that Heaven and hell are real. Let’s follow Jesus’s command. Let’s share the Gospel and bring others to Christ through our words, actions, and prayers.

Bible verse to memorize this week: