Because my mother was ill, my father moved the family to Arizona when I was nine months old. Although they both had religious backgrounds in Wisconsin, it was in Arizona that a church planter gave them the gospel, and they put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. As a result, our home life involved Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and high spiritual and moral standards.

When I was eight years old, our family attended an evangelistic meeting in Phoenix, and I responded to the gospel message. I knew I was sinful and needed Jesus to help me. The person who spoke with me about my soul helped me understand that I could not please God by anything I could do—I needed to repent of my sin and believe in Jesus, who died and rose again to take my sin away. I accepted the truths of the Bible, that declares “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…. For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:8; 6:23). I prayed a simple “sinner’s prayer,” I knew God had removed my burden of guilt and given me spiritual peace. The Bible says, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Even though I was young, I remember a few things that happened when I was born again; but I am so glad that my salvation does not depend on my memory but on God’s grace and truth. The Bible proclaims that it is “according to [God’s] abundant mercy [that He has] begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:3-5). Every person who ever lived will give account of himself to his Creator someday. Nevertheless, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,” and “he who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who disbelieves the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36, NAS).

Friend, there is no joy greater than knowing God loves you, has rescued you from an eternity in hell, and has made you His child forever. If you have not yet done so, I urge you to repent of your sin and receive God’s free gift of eternal life: “for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:6-8, NAS).

—Pastor Andersen