Mary Whitfield
Salvation Experience
I thank God I grew up in a loving and peaceful family with my parents, three brothers, and two sisters. I loved hearing Bible stories in school about creation, Adam and Eve, Noah...and Jesus and all the miracles He performed in showing His love to people. I believed Jesus was God's son...that He loved all people including me. I knew He died on the cross, was buried, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven.
But I didn't understand the details of the true gospel message-“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life:”...John 3:16,”
which most people know, and John 1:12 which says, "...to those who received Him [Jesus], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”. I had never heard Romans 6:23..."The wages of sin is death [hell] but the gift of God is eternal life [Heaven] through Jesus Christ our Lord." I also had never heard 2 Corinthians 5:21..."God made Him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Jesus, Himself, made the gospel very clear by saying “ I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I figured I surely would go to Heaven someday because I loved God and tried to keep the commandments. But...not so. The Bible says we "are saved by grace..through faith....and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God not by works lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8,9)
Well, life moved on. In my late teens, I felt the best goal in life was to be happily married, to have children, and to do fun things together as a family. :) Every night I prayed, "Lord, help me to have a happy and successful marriage." Well, a few years later I got married, and as in many marriages, my husband and I had struggles.
It was during one of those difficult times that my sister connected with me. She shared the gospel message and how the Lord was working in her life. She got me involved. I went with her to Neighborhood Church (now 3 Crosses), and one night, to a Bible study at a friend's house. I went home and read "The 4 Spiritual Laws" booklet, which the leader there had given me, and it shared how to become a child of God. And so I prayed. I admitted to God that I was a sinner, I asked Him to forgive my sins and come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. And He did!!! Oh what joy!!!
Very soon after that, I joined Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and a home Bible study, and also a prayer meeting each week in the home of someone who was a spiritual mother to me. I was amazed at all the truth I was learning and grew closer to God every day. I was so thrilled that He was living in me, that He would never leave me, that He would supply all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus, and that someday I would live with Him in Heaven the moment I took my last breath on this earth! I wanted to shout it from a mountain top so everyone could know the joys of being God's child!
Since that time, my marriage saw great changes for the good, which I abundantly thank God for. Among these blessings were my husband coming to Christ, and our re-marriage after a brief divorce. The Lord blessed us with two wonderful children, and eventually our son-in-law, and two grandsons. Some years ago, I discovered in a class at church that...my personal mission in life is "to glorify God by leading the lost to Christ and helping those in need." I have served the Lord in various ways since becoming a Christian. It was my joy to do so then and still is. In recent years I have been involved in the kitchen ministry at church, and in children's ministry leadership at Community Bible Study (CBS); and also in handing out tracts, helping individuals in various ways, and above all, in following the verse that says, to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." (2 Peter 3:15). God has truly been good to me, and I am thankful He is helping me to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give me.
Looking back over my life, I would advise all people-no matter how young or old you are, how good or bad you feel you are or have been- the best and most important decision you need to make is to believe in Jesus and receive Him as your Savior and Lord. Then walk faithfully with Him in obedience to His commands and trust His promises. Like the vertical and horizontal spokes on a smoothly running wheel, it’s important for spiritual growth to read God’s word, pray to Him, fellowship with believers, and share the gospel with ‘the world”. Live out Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path”. I love using Romans 12:12 as a helpful focus. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” And remember, God is faithful to His promises. He is our help and strength at all times!
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