I grew up in a Christian home, the first daughter of four children. I went to church from the time I was a baby. Every part of my life was surrounded by others talking about Jesus-- whether it be in songs, sermons, or lessons from Sunday School teachers. We went Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. I was around church people all the time. My parents even helped in new churches. I was taught the Bible at home, in Sunday School, and in church. I memorized scriptures from the Bible on Wednesday nights with other children. One of the favorite verses I memorized at that time was John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." I heard people talk about their personal relationship with God. I accepted all they told me with child-like innocence, for you could tell that they loved Jesus.

One event church-going people have is a revival. Here, a visiting preacher comes to the church and preaches from the Bible for about a week. One Saturday night after the evening revival service, on the way home in the car, I was sitting in between my parents on the front seat. I was a young girl at the time. As we turned the corner, the light from the street light shone in. My father questioned the tears on my face. He asked why I was crying, and I said I had an eyelash in my eye, which was a lie. I was crying because of the realization that I was a sinner (Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.") and that I was on the devil's side. I had learned enough Bible stories and memory verses to know that I did not want to be on the devil's side. I could see that my relationship with God was not right. (James 4:4: "...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.") We made it home and I went to bed, but not to sleep. The tears kept coming, for I had no peace in my heart. I got up and went into the dining room where my parents were. When they asked me what was wrong, I said I wanted to be on the Lord's side and not the devil's. I sat next to my father as we talked over my sin and the consequences of it -- eternal separation from God. (Romans 6:23a: "For the wages of sin is death..."). But God had supplied a way to free me of the payment for my sins so that I could be eternally with Him (Romans 6:23b: "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."). John 3:16-17 says, "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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." I prayed there with my father and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come into my heart. I was accepting His gift that He had given by dying on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, especially for me. Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

I had all the good things in life -- loving parents, I went to church, I listened to Bible stories, and memorized scriptures, but none of those things would have gotten me into Heaven.

I went to bed after our talk with my tears dried, a smile on my face, and peace in my heart. The next morning I went forward in church to tell everyone else my exciting news. Romans 10:9-11: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture said, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Since that night in August of 1972, the prayer I said holds even greater meaning. I wanted to be on the Lord's side and not the devil's. I have grown spiritually just as I have grown physically since then. The trust I put in Jesus at that time has grown stronger the more I learn about Him. Just as in any relationship, the more you learn about someone, the deeper the friendship grows. I have grown to love His Word, the Bible, the Book He has preserved in order to tell me more about His plan of salvation and how I should live. Wouldn't you like to have that security, to know for sure you are on the Lord's side? I pray that you would want to be on the winning side.