12 Inches

God has laid it upon my heart to tell my testimony of salvation. Prior to my salvation, 12 inches was sending me to hell. Let me further explain.

It has become apparent to me that sometimes at funerals, people’s salvation is not mentioned. So, before I die, not to say that I am planning death anytime soon, I’d like the world to know just how I came to know the Lord as my Saviour and that I know – for sure – that I am saved. Yes, one can know for sure.

I John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”

Let me start at the beginning, but I will keep it brief. I grew up in a Christian home, went to church, went to Sunday school, etc. I lived a wonderful, childhood and had many friends and family. One summer, I went to camp. It was an enjoyable time with fun and friends. At the end of each day, the counsellor would always talk with teens and give the plan of Salvation. One night, others prayed to be saved. I thought, “I will pray now as well. I will get ‘this’ over with. I won’t be as embarrassed here as going forth in church. This will settle it and it will be done.” So, I prayed. Camp finished, I went home, told my parents and everyone was thrilled. I got baptised and thought, “that was that.”

But, “that was not that.” Now, as I explain about my Salvation – which was not at camp – I am not saying that people who pray at camp are not saved, but for me – I was not saved. Let me further explain.

I knew deep down inside; I was not saved. I could not fully understand it at the time, but I knew something was not right. I struggled with it for years.

There was no problem with the fact that I knew I was a sinner. That had been preached about in church so much, I knew I was a sinner.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

I also knew Jesus was God and he was come in the flesh to die and shed his blood for me to cover my sins.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus to save us from our sins.

John 3:16-17 “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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

It is so wonderful that we have a way to heaven. I wanted to go to heaven. I was not a rebellious person. As the years went by, I kept thinking about things. I thought plenty about hell. Many people do not like to mention this, but it is a real place. If I said something was burning in an everlasting fire, where would you say that something was? “Hell”

John 14:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Through God’s Word, I knew hell was created for the devil and his angels; but it is also a place where people go who do not have the Lord as their Saviour. I knew that as I was living, I was sinning, and there was a penalty for my sins.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Okay, I knew I was a sinner, God was Jesus come in the flesh, Jesus died on the cross to save me from eternal torment in hell. I had all this understood. No problem. I also understood that I needed to repent of my sins and ask Jesus to save me. This I had done at camp. Right?

Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”

So, what was the problem?

Then one day, somehow, it occurred to me. I saw it – right there in the Bible. It was a grouping of verses I had seen many times before, but never really pondered deeply.

Romans 10:9-10,13 “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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

That was it! That was the problem. I had only said words because others were praying and saying words. I had said words but never meant them in my heart. Romans 10: 9 “and shalt believe in thine heart.”

Think on it this way. Have you ever had someone come to you and say, “I’m sorry?” Deep down inside, you know they are not sorry. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself. Said, “I’m sorry,” but not meant it. Whatever is said, we know if we really mean the words we say.
For the prayer I said at camp, I was not saved. I had only said words because others were saying words. I did not mean those words in my heart.

I held a tape measure up to myself and measured from my mouth to the approximate location of my heart and it read 12 inches. So, if I had not resolved this in my life, 12 inches was sending me to hell.

Good news though, I did resolve the issue. In early November 1999, I attended a Wednesday night church service and the preacher preached an unusual hell-fire and brimstone message for Wednesday night. I went home and could not sleep. The next morning, I could not take it anymore. I knew what I needed to do. I needed to pray again but this time from my heart.

Well, I prayed and the peace that passes all understanding flooding my soul.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

I got up from my knees in my living room and called everyone I knew. The false belief that Satan had me under was gone. He had me believe, “If you get saved, you will be embarrassed. People already think you are saved. You must be saved. Don’t mention this to anyone.” I’m so glad I did not stay under Satan’s control and his false belief. I gladly called everyone and everyone was thrilled. Yes, a few people said, “I thought you were saved.” But when they heard about my story, they were so glad I “really” got saved and that I was now “really” going to heaven when I die.

I now know that I have eternal life. No maybes, no worrying, no wondering, I know!

I John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”

Even when life’s burdens are weighing me down, my soul is at a continual peace now. Amen!