Susan

I was raised in a Christian household and was exposed to Christian teaching regularly.  When I was 8/9 years old I distinctly remember doing a Bible reading with my father and discussing eternity, I knew that I wasn’t a Christian and was terrified of going to a lost eternity, this spurred me on to think deeper about my own soul.

I had a period of time where thoughts of eternity would pop in to my mind but I would disregard them quickly as they were difficult to think about.  One evening whilst watching television, I started to think of Christ’s work of the cross, I remembered that I had been told on many occasions that Christ had died on the cross but couldn’t quite understand why this was significant for me, a ‘good Christian girl’.  I also remember hearing that the apostle Peter had died on the cross also but he had been hung upside down which, in my opinion at the time, was far worse.  I decided to point this out to my father and stated that I couldn’t see what the fuss was about.  My father’s response provoked me to think.  He said that Christ’s death was significant because He lived a perfect life, and had died for sinful men and women, if I believed and repented He died to take away my sin.  I had heard the gospel before but this was the first time I really knew it.   Although outwardly I was ‘good’, inwardly I was bad.   However, God loved me then and He loves me now!

As a Christian God doesn’t promise that things will be easy.  At times I have found life very difficult.  My Dad died quite suddenly a few years ago and I felt a deep sorrow that not even my immediate family could take away.  At this time when my earthly father was gone my heavenly father drew near to comfort me.  Jesus said in the Bible  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.