My
name is David and this is the way
that GOD changed my life.
I
used to live my life for drugs. I
didn't have anything else to fill
the hole I felt inside me. Sure,
my parents had told me about JESUS
and salvation, but I figured I didn't
need any quick fix GOD in my life.
Well I started doing all kind of things. I hurt people, lied for
the heck of it, robbed people,
slept with whatever girl would
have me, went from job to job, and
generally did not care. I didn't
like myself much, but I survived.
Anyways
I started going to jail... a lot.
I still didn't want GOD. I got put
on probation, failed, and went
back to jail. This last time I
went I decided enough was enough,
and that there has to be more to
life than survival. I started
reading the bible that I borrowed
from the guy next door. I got
almost all the way through it (I
started at Gen.) and he started
complaining that I was using it to
much, so I decided to try to get
one of my own. I asked the chaplain
at the unit I was in for a bible,
but he said they were out. This I
when I decided to pray. I figured
if GOD cared about me he would
send me a bible so that I could
learn more. Well, I prayed and the
next day a new trusty showed up.
The guy on the other side of me
asked him for a bible, so the
trusty left and came back with
about 4-5 of them and I asked for
one. It didn't immediately occur
to me that my prayer had been
answered. When I figured it out I
started reading even more than
what I had. I had trouble at first
because it was an old English King
James Version, but I prayed for
understanding. It didn't get
easier all of the sudden, but gradually
I started to understand what I was
reading.
I
learned about sin. GOD showed me
that anything that we do that is
not according to or aligned with
HIS will is sin. I was also shown
that all gifts come from heaven,
and how GOD uses everything (even
our mistakes) to glorify HIS name.
I then learned about salvation. I
learned that JESUS was the only
ONE who never sinned because
everything HE did was for GOD, and
that HE was GOD's only begotten SON,
who was with GOD from the very
beginning. I learned how HE came
to Earth to show us who GOD is and
how we should live. I also learned
how HE bore the wrath of GOD by
dying on the cross, even though HE
was completely sinless, so that we
would not have to pay the price
for our own sin. I learned that
GOD loved us, and still loves us,
and that that love will never
change no matter what we do. I
also learned that all we have to
do is accept the gift of salvation
(the act of CHRIST who was sent
from GOD for this purpose) and we
could live with GOD for all
eternity.
I
realized that GOD is not a quick
fix GOD, but ONE who loves us very
dearly. So I decided to pray
again. This time I asked GOD to
take away all my sin. To forgive
me for all the evil, selfish things
I had done, and to give me a
new spirit and a pure heart like
HE promises. I told HIM how sorry
I was for everything I had done to
HIM and everyone else. I told HIM
that I believed in HIS SON JESUS,
that JESUS came to Earth to pay
the price for all that I had done.
After
I got done praying I felt all that
hate and misery fall away, and a
peace greater than I had ever
known. I couldn't stop from crying
(picture a man in prison crying
like a little kid). Anyways I kept
reading. I started telling others
about GOD and salvation. A lot of
people started coming to me for
help! I told them everything GOD
showed me and helped them read
(most people couldn't understand
the KJV so I helped them interpret
it with GODs help).
Anyways
that went on for a while, but one
day I was called into the nurse on
sick call. She told me that the
blood test I took when I first got
there came back and that I had
Hepitis C which cannot be cured. I
was really shocked at first, then
really depressed, but eventually I
figured GOD had a plan. Well after
a good while, and a lot of work
helping others come to GOD, I finally
got released. I made it all the
way back home, and I decided to go
to the doctor to see about
treatment for the Hep C. I took
another blood test, and a few
weeks later, he called me back and
said that the pen must have been
mistaken. I could barely even
speak. I hung up and praised GOD
because I knew that he had healed
me.
I
still face a lot of things, but
now I have a friend in JESUS to
help me through my hardship. I
hope you find the peace and love
that has made my life complete.
David, I cannot
find the words to tell you what a
blessing your testimony is to me,
personally, for it is a message of
hope, and confirmation that
through God's love, all things are
possible... even the healing and
salvation of my own heroin
addicted son. I can only
say, "Thank you", and
praise God for giving you the
boldness to share your
story. I'm sure many will be
blessed by your testimony.
If
you have just read David's
inspiring testimony, please know
that God loves you, too, and
understand that you can NEVER do
ANYTHING so bad that you can make
HIM stop loving you. He WILL
forgive you, IF you ask, and you
can know the peace and love that
David speaks of.
May God
continue to bless you,
David.
Your sister in Christ... Wren.
