From: NU169273@NDSUVM1.BITNET
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Spared ...
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:22:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: NDSUVM1.92097.112206NU169273
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network


                                SPARED!
                                =======


October 1967

  A rat ran across the legs of the Illinois soldier on tour of duty in
Vietnam as he slept in a large bunker.  It was Sunday night and
torrential rain gushed down the hill toward the rotting sandbags at
the top of the bunker.  Startled by the rat, Ron awoke.  Then it
happened; the sandbags gave way.  Water, mud, 'ceiling' beams, canvas,
and debris crashed down upon him, pinning his legs.  If some of the
timber had not caught on the bottom side of the bunker wall, he would
have been buried alive.

  Ron cried for help until he was hoarse -- and desperately prayed for
almost three hours.  The water rose higher and higher leaving barely
enough air for him to breathe.  Panic filled him.  Would he survive?

  Finally, he heard his buddies tearing at the wood, mud, and canvas.
At last they reached him and carried him to the aid station where he
convalesced for about a week.  His company, meanwhile, with his
platoon in the lead, was caught in a fierce ambush and several of his
buddies were killed.  The date was October 14.

January 1968

  Ron sat close to an end-pole, used to hold up his sleeping tent.  He
arose without touching the pole and walked down the hill.  Suddenly a
savage explosion burst into the air and Ron turned to see pieces of
the radio telephone operator's body flying through the air.  He had
grabbed the pole.  It had been booby-trapped!

February 1968

  The 'TET' offensive in Vietnam was in full swing.  During one of the
fiercest battles, an enemy bullet crashed through Ron's helmet,
creasing his head and slamming him back, stunned, into his fox hole.
Later, in retrospect, he stared at the two holes in the helmet.  God
had indeed spared him again.  Touched by God's love and preservation,
                      ^^^^^
Ron convenanted with God, 'Lord, if You get me out of here, I'll come
back to You and serve You.'

March 1968

  Ron listened intently as the evangelist preached.  Solemnly
remembering his promise to God, the soldier raised his hand for
prayer.  That afternoon in the church office, the pastor led Ron back
to God and back to a place of service to the One who graciously spared
him on the battlefield time and time again.

  Will you get right with God as Ron did?  God loves you.  He wants
you back.  He made provision so that you might come back.  Remember
that the Lord Jesus Christ bore your sins -- all of them -- on the
cross.  "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,"
(I Peter 2:24).

  When you sin, Satan accuses you before God, but the Lord Jesus
Christ represents you there.  "My little children, these things write
I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"  (I John 2:1).

  When you sin, Christ represents you in Heaven as your Defense
Attorney!  The One who represents you when you sin is the One who
already bore that sin on the cross.

  Your part now is to confess your sins -- to name them to your Father
in Heaven.  And when you do, He forgives you and cleanses you.  "If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (I John 1:9)

  God has spoken to you many times through His Word as He did to Ron.
Come back to Him today.  Think what this will mean to you, and to your
family and to those who are watching your testimony.  You cannot
afford to remain out of fellowship with God any longer.

  You can know the joy of forgiveness and the peace of knowing your
are right with God.  Get the matter settled now.  Confess your sins to
God.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
  I know for sure I am saved forever.  But I lost my fellowship with
God.  However, I have confessed my sins and I now claim His
forgiveness, according to His promise in I John 1:9.
--------------------------------------------------------------------


  Perhaps you have never repented to God the Father and received Jesus
Christ as your own personal Saviour.  Honestly, you know you are a
sinner.  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
(Romans 3:23)

  You also know, "The wages of sin is death."  (Romans 6:23)

  You know that Christ died on the cross to bear your sins.  "For
Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that
he might bring us to God," (I Peter 3:18).

  You know he rose again from the dead "according the scriptures:"
(I Corinthians 15:4).  You know you can be saved right now by
receiving Him.  "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
(John 1:12).

  As earnestly as I know how, I plead with you to make the decision
for Christ before it is too late.  Tell Him you receive Him now and
that you trust in HIM and what He did for you on the cross that you
would be saved.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
  I now take the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him and His work alone on
the cross at Calvary for my salvation from sin and its wages of death.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


K. Paulson                   (His grace spared me from my sins and  )
N. D. S. U. student teacher  (the fire of Hell:  September 10, 1990.)
1109 16th Street North #1
Fargo, ND 58102
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