Getting Off the Highway to Hell

The Lord knew why I should move into the basement apartment at Bill and Edith's home.
I did, and so on Saturday, December 8, 1962, I was walking down the street from my new
home when Leanne, a 17-year old who lived just around the corner asked me, "How would
you like to go to a Youth for Christ meeting tonight?".

I was taken aback for a moment, then told her that I couldn't go because I wasn't a teenager.
I assumed that most of those attending the meeting would be teenagers. Then Leanne said
a beautiful thing. She said, "You look like a teenager!" I guess I did look like a teenager.
When out drinking, I was always asked for proof of age even though I was a very young looking
27 years old. I hated being asked that!

Imagine...being asked "are you sixteen or seventeen?" Yuck! "I'm almost 28 and have already
lived a life far beyond my years." (Ann Landers would soon attest to that!) Leanne gave me
directions to the meeting that was to be held in a large United Church on John Street,
right across from the bus depot.

"Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak"
- William Congreve (The Mourning Bride)

That night, I joined 2200 young people and parents packed into that place. All of us were
moved by a most remarkable concert. I enjoyed it for two full hours. As a child, I had loved
classical music, finding a tranquility in it that brought some peace to my days during time
of deep depression. The depression lasted up to that night, but then a transformation took
place that would make a difference in so many ways from that day forward. I had no idea
God would pour out His Spirit into such a hardened life as mine had been. In the coming
years, it would become very evident that God loved me, a sinner saved by grace, by an
unmerited gift of His love.

I just soaked it in as the Spurlow Choir provided the most beautiful sacred Gospel music
I had ever heard. I was a pagan, except perhaps at Christmas-time. After the music ended,
someone began to speak about something totally new to me. He explained about
Jesus Christ being our Saviour, and of God's love, and so much more. I couldn't seem to
take it all in. Something was happening to me. All my life, when someone talked about God,
I refused to have an open mind, and reverted back to my dark path of bitterness. It was like
the time I shed those tears at Phillip's funeral, which was the first time I'd cried since I left
home. Yet this wasn't sad. It was awesome! I wanted to be in this place. I dared not leave
even if he continued to speak all night. He soon finished, though, and asked everyone to
bow his or her head in prayer. It was the first time I obeyed instructions from anyone
about anything!

Then the speaker said, "Would you raise your hand if you want to accept Jesus into your
heart?" I didn't open my eyes to see if others were watching me; I just lifted my hand and
held it high. Then he asked for more decisions and I raised my hand again. Finally, he
spoke to me personally, saying, "I see you up there, young man." I opened my eyes then
and saw him smiling at me. You know, I figured I wouldn't be seen 'way up there in the
balcony, but he'd seen the tears in my eyes and I knew I had to go to where he was.
Only moments later, I was kneeling at the front of the stage where a man named Wayne
came over to talk to me. He said many things I'd never heard before, but of one thing I
was sure: before that night I had been on the highway to hell.

Wayne showed me John 3:16 from the Bible, "For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on him shall not perish but have everlasting
life." He also quoted Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
That night I started my journey to heaven. But how could God forgive such a pagan like me?
I had swore and shook my fist at Him so many times. I always thought I hated God because
I hated myself so deeply. Up to that night, I had never heard of a verse of scripture, never
listened to sacred music, or ever entered the doors of a church. But without a doubt, I knew
I was on the way to hell. Yes, up until that night, I lived to die; however, I knew beyond a
doubt, from the lifestyle I lived, where I would spend eternity.

Here's how I was born again that awesome night, December 8, 1962, and got off the
road to hell: I admitted that I was a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come
short of the Glory of God". I believed in Christ for the first time in my life, and that He died
on Calvary for my sins. I truly repented of all my sins and was forgiven because of the
finished work of Calvary. Romans10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved".

So dear reader, to be born again, you must Admit, Believe, and Receive Jesus as your
personal Saviour. Then your name, too, will be entered into the Book of Life.