By Kevin Strickland

Then I met a man at work called "Who-dak" who seemed just like me. He had a full bushy white beard. He told me he had been a Marine, a "point man" in Vietnam. He rode bikes. He had done everything I was doing. You could see from his tough look that he had lived a hard life but there was something different about Who-dak. He was full of joy. He never preached at me, but he told me over and over how Jesus changed his life.

Now, I had heard about God before. I had a Christian mother who prayed for me and took me to church. But I had wandered far, far away from all that. I didn't think about whether I was lost or saved. I thought I was as good as the people I hung around with, but when I saw this man who seemed just like me, I could tell that he wasn't like me at all. He seemed to have so much joy. And peace. He seemed to be excited about life, like everything was brand new.

I was brought up in church but did not know God. I thought I knew God, but after seeing and talking with Who-dak I realized I didn't know God at all. I found myself with a real desire to read the Bible to find out more about the God who had changed my friend's life.

A short while later, Who-dak went to the hospital with heart problems. I went to visit Who-dak and saw he had been cut from his chest to his toes. Another man was praying with him, and Who-dak threw his hands in the air rejoicing. I don't know what it was, but I couldn't get that picture out of my mind. When I left the hospital I headed straight for the comfort of my barn.

My barn was an old tobacco packhouse where I worked on my bikes and smoked weed. This was "my world". But as I walked through the trees that day, I remembered Who-dak raising his hands in the hospital and praising God with such joy. I suddenly saw the emptiness of my own life. I started sobbing with conviction. I couldn't stand it. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands in surrender and said "God, I can't do this anymore".

I remembered reading in the Bible Romans 10:9; "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I prayed, "I know in my hearts that Jesus died for my sins. Lord, forgive me." I felt the peace of God come over me, and I knew that I was changed. After some time I stood up to walk away, and I remember looking back to see if I was even leaving footsteps. I felt like my feet weren't touching the ground. This was the turning point in my life. I was saved!

My search for joy and peace ended when my relationship with Jesus began. Quickly I realized I had lost the desire to smoke weed. My cursing stopped. I didn't yell at my wife or get mad. I wasn't the same man she married. I found new Christian friends at a church nearby. Wow, what a change! "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are pass away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)

I would like to share this new joy I have with you: "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)

Pray this prayer with me. "Dear God, I know in my heart that Jesus died for my sins and rose again to give me new life. Lord, forgive me and come into my heart. Thank you for saving my soul. In Jesus' name, amen."

If you prayed this prayer, find a Bible-believing church and Christian friends, and always share your story about how you met Jesus, the man who changed your life. God Bless You!