 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
Lebanese by
birth… Australian by allegiance… & Heaven bound.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
The
countdown began, just few days earlier, on July 16, when ignition
was established on pad 13 of the Kennedy space centre, lifting
off Apollo 11 with 3 astronauts on board of 1 of
the most advanced flying machines at the time. The carefully built and
finely tuned spacecraft travelled 391,888 Kilometres (244,930 miles)
into the unchartered space of God’s great and marvellous creation.
The
nature of their mission and destiny was to realise their nation’s
vision and dream, which was to reach the moon, and they did when the
EAGLE landed. Neil Armstrong descended the Lunar Module, which
ultimately touched down. As he stepped on the “lot less dustier than
expected” surface of the moon, he described that momentous event with
eleven unforgettable words:
“That’s One Small Step For Man, One Giant Leap For
Mankind “
By
comparison the simple choice that you make and the single step that you
take, to be In Christ, is even far greater in impact, influence
and effect than that of Neil Armstrong’s. This is real because God -
the King of eternity becomes your heavenly Father when you accept His
only begotten Son - the
Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. And as his child, you have
access to His throne of Grace, which takes you from Earth, past the
Moon, to Eternity. Millions of people over the years have testified
to that new and dynamic relationship with the true and the living God.
Here is my story in brief.
I
was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, into a loving Roman Catholic/Maronite
family. The youngest of four boys, my week consisted basically of
school, scooters, seeing movies and Sunday church (occasionally I rang
the bells). Summer was a favourite time when for three months of the
year our family went to our mountain home in Becharre, up north from the
old city of Tripoli and down from the majestic Cedars of Lebanon.
In the late sixties, Australia was
seen as the land of milk and honey and migration took off. So in 1970 my
dad and I followed in the steps of my two older brothers who had left
Lebanon few years earlier and prepared the way for us to live here. Our
whole family eventually settled in Ashfield –an inner western suburb
of Sydney. At the age of fifteen I was back in school learning English
and sitting for the Year 10/School Certificate.
Growing up in my new adopted
country , music was my comfort and the guitar was my companion. I began
to play in Rock Bands, which led me to a life style of sin, self and
sensuality. Usually we performed till late and then spent the rest of
the night at some nightspot.
In
1976,
I was seriously searching for purpose in life while sincerely seeking to
find my path thru music and personal relationships. Trying to keep up
with those whom I highly esteemed and looked up to as my heroes, I was
turning every which way to follow closely in their footsteps. On the
work front, I was carving a promising career in the sales industry and
steadily working my way up the ladder of success. In short I was lost,
lonely and looking.
Four
months before my twenty-first birthday - on the 25th of
March, a most unusual event took place that challenged my desire here on
earth and changed my destiny hereafter in eternity. That blessed
Thursday evening I was confronted with the eternal truth of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. The choice before me, from the Holy Bible, was simple
and clear:
In
the sight of the Holiness of God, I stood eternally condemned and
hopelessly lost.
But
In the light of His grace and mercy I could be redeemed, released and really set free.
That night I realised for the first time in my life, a truth, which I
either had never heard in all of my religious instruction days or it had
not registered in my heart before. This gospel truth was simply this:
God, in HIS precious word, was graciously and mercifully extending HIS
offer of salvation for my offence of sin.
In bookkeeping terms - my debt of sin, which is an overdue unpaid
account, can be immediately settled upon repentance of my sin and faith
in HIS Son. I also learned
that the Saviour had already paid in full my debt of sin, a debt that I
could not even service or take care of the interest repayment, when He
died in my place on the cross of Calvary. In other words God was saying
thru His saving word that all of my sin will be put into Christ's
account, and all His goodness will be placed into mine. WOW what an
offer!
His
eternal word assured my heart that, as I turn away and repent from sin
and self and turn to and receive the Saviour in sincere faith, I will be
saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved”(Romans 10:13).
Because of my sinful lifestyle, which amongst other dark activities and
destructive habits included living in a defacto marriage relationship at
the time, I was easily convicted. That night, I trusted my soul to the
Saviour’s grace and mercy as I totally rested in the love of Christ on
Calvary. I received freely God’s gift of everlasting life, as I
believed his promise of eternal salvation. In short, according to
God’s precious word and because of what Jesus has done for me, I was
accepted on the merits of Christ alone, and like millions before me, I
too entered into a new and dynamic relationship with the true and Living
God.
Hallelujah,
Eternity was secured, and my heart rejoiced and gave thanks.
In
Closing - The
Lord Jesus Christ is still inviting people, just like you, today. He
says:
“Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”(John 5:24)
The
invitation is still open to all to receive His free and forever grace.
Do not delay; call on God’s mercy today because the book one day will
close and tomorrow may be too late. And you know what is really amazing
is that once you are In Christ;
His sustaining joy will continue to faithfully lead you in your
spiritual journey until you reach your final destination in Heaven.
|
Dear Lord God, I am sorry that I have sinned against You and broken Your Commandments. I turn away from my sins. Please forgive me, and be merciful to me a sinner. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead. I now receive You, Lord Jesus, into my heart as my Saviour and Lord. Thank You dear Lord for giving me a new and eternal life. I invite You to live Your life through me and to make me the person that You want me to be. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen
|
Come Now Today, From Near And Far, Come To The Saviour,
Just As You Are
Go Back
|
© Inner West Baptist 2006 |