Life Changing Letter

Saturday, January 16, 1971 – USA

I gazed out the window of our small stone home in the country and saw the postman drive away. “I’ll get the mail, Mom.” I put on my winter coat, hat, and mittens to brave the bitter cold. I ran down the gravel driveway, scooped the letters from the mailbox, and skimmed through them as I raced back to our warm home.

Thrilled to see a letter from my older sister, Marsha, a freshman who studied at the state university three hours away. When she came home for a visit in October, she explained her roommate had shared with her how to become a Christian. After Marsha received Christ as her Savior, her chronic headaches had vanished. She also broke up with her boyfriend because he wasn’t a Christian. Marsha and her roommate loved to go to campus Bible studies together.

When Marsha came home for Thanksgiving, she asked that we give her money instead of presents for Christmas so she could attend a missionary conference. As a sophomore in high school, I thought she was crazy to give up all her Christmas presents to attend some dumb old missionary conference.

After Marsha returned to school in January, I couldn’t stop thinking about her new happiness. I sent her a letter last week and asked her to tell me more about God. With eager anticipation, I took her reply to my bedroom, closed the door, and began to read.

Dear Pam,

I would love to share with you more about God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we went to church every Sunday and heard about Jesus Christ, the pastor never told us that each of us needs to personally receive Him as Savior. My roommate shared the good news about Christ with me our first night at college.  I went to a Bible study with her, and I received Him as my Savior shortly afterward. I am so thankful that I have a personal eternal relationship now with Christ and my all sins are forgiven.

As it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world (Pam) that He gave His only begotten (unique) Son, that whoever (Pam) believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (NKJV). This is the most important decision of your life because it decides whether you will spend eternity with God or perish forever without Him.  He loves you so much that He died for you on the cross to bear the punishment for your sins.  After three days He rose again and lives in heaven today.

Today I asked the campus group at the noon meeting to pray for you to receive Him as your personal Savior.

Love in Christ,  Marsha

No one had ever prayed for me before. What wonderful news that God loved me so much that He died for me so I could live with Him for all eternity.  He knew about my shyness and insecurities, and my fear of death ever since my cousin was killed in the Vietnam war. As my tears flowed, I bowed my head and prayed,

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You as I am– a sinner.  Thank You for sending Your only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in my place for my sins and that He rose again from the grave.  I receive Him now as my Savior.  Thank You for Your eternal love. Amen.

When I opened my eyes, God’s peace and joy flooded my heart, and my fear of death was gone.