For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

~Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

The first day I heard God’s voice speaking into my spirit, my friend Tony Blaile Sr. and I had just returned from playing baseball.

My parents met us at the door of my house, and they told me they had something to share. Tony thought I was about to get in trouble, so he tried to leave. My Dad asked Tony to stay. He patted the couch, and we sat.

With tears brimming, my dad shared that my cousin Jay, who was my age, had been found dead in his bedroom. I sat in disbelief; the words my dad had spoken played through my mind as a broken record … Even so, the reality of Jay’s death did not set in until the night of the viewing and I saw my cousin in his casket.

It was at that precise moment that I realized life is not guaranteed, and just because a person is young, life could end at any moment.  I started attending a church.

It was at a Friday night youth group meeting that I heard God speak into my spirit. As Pastor finished his message, he asked if anyone needed to ask Jesus into their lives. I remember holding onto the pew in front of me so hard that my knuckles were turning white. I felt a pounding in my chest. It felt like my heart was getting ready to explode. I finally gave in and went to the altar. Falling on my knees, I asked God to forgive me. Tears gushed from my eyes in torrents. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.

After praying, I felt such a release in my spirit and I knew I had made the most important decision ever. For the first time in my life, I did not only know about God but I now knew Him.  I felt the assurance that no matter what happened—from that point forward—God was my Heavenly Father, and one-day when I had taken my last breath and my spirit man was freed from this earthly tabernacle of flesh, I would spend eternity with Jesus Christ and God the Father.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

~Romans 6:8 NKJV

As I get older, I realize more and more that this body will not last forever. But now I have the sure promise of eternity with God.  When this body dies, I will be with my Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ. My new life will have just begun…

Do you have the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ? Invite Him into your life today.

Lord Jesus, thank You for dying in my place, as payment for my sins, so that through You I can have eternal life. Come into my heart to stay. I give You all that I am, and I ask You to help me to honor You every day of my life. I receive forgiveness for my sins and I thank You for Your sacrifice on Calvary’s cross so I can live free, and so that I can have the assurance of eternity with You in Heaven.

Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: The Day God Spoke to Me: Ed Chappelle: All Rights Reserved