I sat down next to my sweet young friend, and she gave God, which thrilled my heart. She said she wanted to know God more intimately but didn’t know how to go about that.

           So, I told her about my journey of walking by faith and how it all started when, as a young child, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin. I realized that I needed Him to be my Savior, and I surrendered my will and my life to His control. At that very moment, I experienced the peace of His presence and the assurance of knowing I would spend eternity in heaven with Him.

          I asked her if there was ever a time in her life when she had opened her heart to Jesus and put her complete faith and trust in Him.  She said she had not, but that she went to church and tried to be a good person. I told her that as much as we like to think we can do something to earn salvation, all that is necessary on our part is faith—trusting in Jesus as our Savior. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

        People try to make it so complicated, but God’s plan of salvation is really so simple. It is not a list of dos and don’ts, and it has nothing to do with being a good person. In reality, we are all sinners and are desperate without Jesus. We come to Him just as we are—dirt, sin and all—and He wipes the slate clean through His shed blood on the cross. And that is where the journey begins, the walk by faith…and what a glorious walk it is!

        I still mess up. Unfortunately, sin is still a part of the human nature. But God’s grace, forgiveness and healing are very real. He invites each of us to know Him and walk in freedom with Him.

             I wish I could say that my young friend made a decision that day to open her heart to Jesus. Something held her back. I’m not sure what it was, but maybe it’s the same thing that holds you back. If God is stirring your heart, don’t push Him away. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. “…now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)