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John Harris

Corpus Christi, TX

I was the kind of person that didn’t think seriously about anyone but myself and I had no hope. Even though I might look everywhere for satisfaction and happiness I could not find any kind of real peace and joy. I kept trying to be a better and happier person, but the more I tried the more I failed to find what I was looking for. I needed something to change or I wouldn’t be able to take life, fortunately that’s exactly what happened. A very good friend of mine shared some very important truths with me and it radically changed my view of life and the way things are. I learned that heaven is a free gift and it’s not something that I have to try to earn or have to be good enough to deserve. In fact, people can’t be good enough to get to heaven. I had never thought about life that way before. God is kindhearted and wants to forgive us all for the bad things that we do and for not doing those things we know we should do. Even though God is compassionate He’s also just and has to deal with our offenses. That’s where Jesus comes into the story. I knew about Jesus, that He lived, died, and rose again, but I didn’t know what that had to do with me. The bible describes Jesus as God who came to live as a man. As this God-man He lived a perfect life and died in our place to pay the penalty for our mistakes and to purchase a place for us in heaven. All we have to do is have faith in Him. Faith is not just intellectual understanding or temporary confidence, but it’s trusting in Jesus alone for eternal life. When I understood that being a Christian is not about doing all the right things, but it’s about trusting in what Jesus has already done, I knew I wanted to be a part of that kind of faith. Jesus describes this experience as being “born again,” and I knew I’d never really had that experience. On May 21, 1985 I transferred my trust from what I could do to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Now I follow Jesus. As you can imagine, this was a major event for me. Jesus became a part of my life and, though I didn’t become perfect, He has gradually been making me the kind of person I’ve always wanted to be. Now I have hope and an assurance that my future is bright. There is an abiding purpose and peace that cannot be explained because I know that when God looks at me He doesn’t see my pitiful effort to be good, He sees the perfection of His son Jesus. The weight of life is off my shoulders and I’m free to live knowing that I’m right with God! If you will simply acknowledge your sin, believe in Jesus alone for salvation, and truly change the one in charge of your life, you too can become a Christian! Why not now? He's listening...

Visit my church: Crossroads Baptist Church