'Jesus' by Thomas Reed

Heart Attack
When I was four years old, I remember seeing my grandfather lying in bed, several days after suffering a heart attack. He showed me a picture he had just painted of the great love in life, Jesus Christ. A few days later, he died. It wasn't the greatest painting in the world, but it was the one which made the greatest impression on my life. It has always struck me that out of all the things in his life that were dear to him, he chose Jesus to paint.

Rejected
As a child, I said my prayers most nights, worried that if I ignored and rejected God, then God would reject me. When I reached my teenage years, I decided that I wanted to 'have fun' and did things I know were wrong. I still kept my options open with God by saying my prayers and going to church with my family, but my thoughts and desires were not for Him. In my pursuit of happiness I did have times of pleasure and enjoyment, but there was no lasting fulfilment or satisfaction. I only had a sense of bitterness and guilt from the way I was living my life. There always seemed to be something missing.

Challenge
1988 brought me to a point where I was not happy with my life. Circumstances took me to a different church where the pastor really challenged me about the way I was living. He asked me if I knew whether I was going to Heaven or Hell. I wasn't sure. I told him that I knew I was a sinner, doing many things that were wrong in God's eyes that I was sorry for, and that Jesus Christ, God's Son had taken the punishment that I deserved, on the cross. He told me that if I believed this to be true, then I would be saved from the reality of everlasting punishment in hell. That night I asked Jesus into my heart, and asked Him to take control of my life and help me to turn from my sins.

Freedom
Since then I have come to know Jesus more as He has changed me and given me the power and strength to cope with life's trials and problems. I've realised too that going to Heaven isn't about trying to live by a set of standards or rules that are impossible to keep. You can't earn your way into Heaven either, by doing good deeds. The only way is to ask Jesus to take control of your life and you will experience the freedom and happiness that living under God's grace brings.

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