Are You Saved?
Have you ever wondered what it meant to know Christ as your own personal Saviour? Has someone ever asked if you were "saved"? Have you thought about what happens after this life - what then? Well, let me share a story with you . . .
"Those who knew J. Fred Swanson would tell you he was a man of integrity, and a man who had it all - a beautiful wife, Jennifer; two terrific kids, Jessica who was 7 years of age and Jordan who was 5; a lovely home and a very promising career at a successful aviation company.
Fred had an incredible charisma, and his cheerful attitude coupled with his passion for adventure always made him a great person to be around. His skill as an aircraft mechanic and an avid pilot took him all over the world. His love for flying took him around the world - from Greece, to flying charter flights in Thailand, and even spending four months on the frozen tundra of Antarctica. Fred was always ready to fly!
Tragedy struck on Tuesday, 17 April, 2001. On final approach at Oshkosh airport, Fred Swanson was killed while test flying a V-tail Bonanza. Co-workers, friends and family were simply stunned - no one could believe it had really happened. The only comfort everyone found on that tragic day was in the fact that Fred was ready to die. Fred's deep faith in God was evident to all who knew him.
You see, as a young man Fred had accepted Christ as his own personal Saviour. The Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Fred believed that the word "whosoever" in this verse meant him. It means you, too. Perhaps you have been in a situation where you have felt that gripping fear of death and muttered a quick prayer to God, your Maker, to spare your life. He answered that prayer, and today God wants to answer another prayer for you. He wants you to come to Him as a sinner in need of a Saviour.
In Romans 3:23, it says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." How true this is! We all have done, said and thought things that are wrong - this is sin. If we sin, then we are sinners.
Sin has a price. Romans 6:23 tells us "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
This is a awful price to pay, isn't it! But do you know what? Christ has paid that price for us - did you see the last part of Romans 6:23 - "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." In Romans 5:8, it explains how Christ paid that price: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
What a gift! Would you receive that gift today? Here is how the Bible says you can be sure you are ready to die. Romans 10:9-10 explains, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Further on, the Bible says in Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
That word "whosoever" means you! Would you call upon the Lord to save you right now? Pray this simple prayer, and mean it with all your heart:
'Dear God, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me of all my sin. Right now I ask Jesus into my heart and life to be my Saviour. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.'
Fred's life was tragically ended at the prime of his life, but he was ready . . . ready to die. The sincere desire of all his friends and family is that God would be glorified in his death through people coming to know Christ as their personal Saviour as they see Fred's preparation and readiness for death."
If you asked the Lord to save you, would you let us know? email wanttruth@gmail.com
