I was raised in an atheistic home, told there was a devil, but no God.  By the time I was 16, I was a professing Satanist, reading Anton LaVey's "Satanic Bible" and addicted to heavy, speed, and death metal music (Venom, Slayer, Metallica, etc.).  By the time I was 17, I was an alcoholic (drinking every day of the week), using drugs and searching for ways to escape reality and obtain peace.

When I was 21, my then girlfriend had our first child, and God began to deal with me about drinking.  For about a year I tried to quit drinking, but to no avail.  (Life seemed hopeless).  It was around New Year's.  I was closing up the store and tired of life.  Suicide seemed to be the answer.  The alcohol, drugs, music and stress of running a business seemed to point that way.  (I wanted peace).  I turned off my music and pulled out the gun and pondered hell, and a movie called "The Unholy".  For the first time in my life, I believe, I feared death and hell.  It was the end of 1991, and I made a resolution that I was going to find God.

I told an Airforce recruiter and she invited me to her church.  I went and continued to go.  A man from the church came into my store and I told him my plans to be saved.  He told me I did not have to go to church to be saved, but could be saved anywhere, even right now. I submitted, and for the first time in my life, "Humbled myself in the sight of God" (James 4:10).  I got down on my knees in the back of that store and told God, "I'm sick of my life and can't help myself".  With a repentant heart, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me.  I've never drunk alcohol or used drugs since that day.  I no longer searched for peace through alcohol, drugs, women or music.  I obtained peace instantly.  The Bible says Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

Does your life seem hopeless?  Do you feel like there is something missing?  An empty space in your life that, no matter what you do, still seems empty?  Why don't you tell Jesus Christ.  Ask Him to save you.  Friend, I did not get religion, I got saved, born again, and my life changed.  Do you want your life to change?  Are there things in your life that you know are wrong?  Jesus Christ is waiting right now for you to ask Him to forgive you.  Please don't wait.  Ask Him for help right now.  He helped me, and He will help you.  (Romans 2:11)

The Bible says, "For all have sinned" (Romans 3:23).  This verse means everybody in the world, no matter who they are, have disobeyed God.  Have you ever told a lie?  Then you have sinned.  (Romans 5:12, 3:23)  Friend, if you die with that sin nature you were born with, the Bible says you will go to hell.  (Revelation 21:8)

There is only one way to get rid of the sin you are carrying.  In John 1:29, the Bible says, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."  (That includes you!)  Jesus Christ will forgive any sin you have ever committed, and allow you to have a life that will bring honor and glory to Him.  Do you know how old you are?  Just as assuredly, you can know that if you died right now, Heaven would be your home!  You Can!  The Bible says, in I John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God".  Friend, you repent (be sorry for and turn from your sins) (Luke 13:3 one time, and you receive Jesus Christ one time.  John 3:6,7 tells us we were born one time in the flesh and need to be born one time in the spirit.  It is called being "born again" (born twice).

If you are not "born again", you do not go to heaven (John 3:3).  Friend, I am not going to heaven because I was baptized in water.  I am going to heaven because I've been "born again".  (John 3:7)  I asked Jesus Christ to save me.

How To Get Peace

Dear God,

I know that I am a sinner and I need help.  I'm tired of my life and know I cannot help myself.  I believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again for my sins.  The best way I know how, I'm asking you, Jesus Christ, to come into my heart and save me.

In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

A Street Preacher, P.O. Box 293, Dover, Ohio 44622