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I have agreed to share my testimony, with the hope and prayer that it will make a difference for others and show them the way to have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1b |
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Dickson Beam |
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The coldest winter recorded in New England history was the freezeout of 1960-1961. During that Christmas season mom, getting ready to have me, received a ‘chilling’ visit from a local minister. Her jaw froze after she pointed to the manger on the TV and asked him the meaning of Christmas. His answer, “I really don’t know” shocked mom and she vowed to never visit that church! This unusual event, however, caused my mom to begin to really wonder about truth. Shortly thereafter, one bitter cold night while dad was at work, |
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mom prepared to watch some television and found that her show had been pre-empted by a Billy Graham Crusade. Televised were thousands singing inspirational music followed by a Bible message explaining the only way to Heaven. Mom, in her living room, responded by personally believing in Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:3-4) as her Saviour. When dad got home she told him she had ‘gotten saved.’ (then she learned that twelve years earlier - before they were together - dad had also been saved). United spiritually with God and one another, and with a fresh desire to learn God’s Word, their lives found new purpose (and now mom understood the meaning of Christmas). January 30, 1961 was the coldest day in Connecticut history (-22 F) . I was born that day. In addition to cutting out the birth announcement from the paper, and no doubt checking the weather map, mom found an ad for a brand new Bible-believing church opening its doors in Enfield CT. Mom and dad attended. God blessed them, and they prospered. My early childhood years coincided with this excitement! What a privilege to be raised in a home where the Bible was learned and the family attended church together. In time, mom and dad grew to become leaders in the church. They eventually enrolled me in a ‘Christian’ school. Yet, for all the spiritual activity, if I had unexpectedly died in my first 18 1/2 years I would have gone to Hell (I John 5:12). Being raised in church with ‘beliefs’ and moral living is fine, but it isn’t the stuff that gets you to Heaven! (Titus 3:5) I had all the man-made ways at my disposal, but as regarding salvation they are not found in the Bible (I Peter 1:23). In my mind I had figured that since I ‘agreed’ with everything I was OK. I could rattle off a set of “beliefs” that had nothing to do with actual trust. When the Bible deals with believing and faith, God is inviting us to trust His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) for everlasting life! Next thing I knew I was an 18 year old with “Christian beliefs” and a pagan heart (Jeremiah 17:9). My desired lifestyle did not match those ‘beliefs.’ I found myself in a spiritual trap! My “spiritual plan” allowing for sin and God to co-exist without conflict was fraudulent (Ephesians 2:1-5). One hot night, July 30, 1979, the following question was asked of this self-centered, conceited 18 year old. If the hope of glory (Heaven) is ‘Christ in you, (Colossians 1:27) how and when did He get in you?!’ Immediately I knew I had no hope and that Christ was not in me because I had never personally received Him (John 1:12). Properly humbled, I went to my knees and called upon the Lord to be my personal Saviour (Romans 10:13). What a moment! (Psalm 32:1) The weight of my sins was gone (Psalm 103:12)! With opened eyes, a new direction, and freedom from sin’s penalty, (Acts 26:18) I watched God change my life. Besides that, I was saved from Hell! (Romans 8:1) I belonged to God (I Corinthians 6:20). He began leading my life into many opportunities to live for eternity. Some call it Kingdom living. Even with valleys, it is a wonderful journey. I’m thankful for a wife and family who all desire to serve God (Acts 16:31). He has since fitted my life for ministry (I Timothy 1:12). I’m just a sinner (Romans 3:23) saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). That’s my story. Now I know where I’ll spend eternity (I John 5:13). I cannot imagine the folly of life without this certainty. Dear friend, neither can I imagine a life, no matter how dynamic or ‘successful,’ that fails to include a Bible salvation story (Matthew 16:26). Please get a Bible and read every verse that I have referenced. These verses are the framework upon which my life is built and can give tremendous security to your soul as well. Please do not lean on human logic regarding eternity without first checking and disproving the very words of God from the Bible. Let Jesus Christ himself show you how He alone saves and prepares one for eternity. Once saved, you will have a story too.
- More “My Stories” - A clear Bible explanation of salvation - Information on Grace Baptist Church
Admit to God that you are a sinner
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
Believe that Jesus Christ died to pay for your sin
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18)
Call out to Him and ask Him to be your Saviour
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Grace Baptist Church 120 Park Avenue Medina, NY 14103 585-798-3096 |