The Moral Glories of Our Lord| Bob Vinson - McKeesport, Pennsylvania |
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Bob Vinson - McKeesport, Pennsylvania The Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 Hello. My name is Bob Vinson and I would like to encourage you to read this short story about the most important event in my life. It took place over thirty years ago, but the end result is eternal. I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on August 2, 1941. I grew up in Etna and Shaler Township (a northern suburb of Pgh.). I was raised in traditional family by responsible and loving parents along with an older brother and younger sister. I was brought up in the religious denomination of our parents. We were taught many of the historical truths concerning Jesus Christ, such as: He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on a cross and rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven. However, along with these historic truths was also added a huge and complicated system of religious teaching of rituals that had developed over the centuries. As a young boy and into my teens, I recall making sincere efforts trying to live up to the precepts of what I had been taught. I knew God hated sin so I would make sincere efforts not to sin. Needless to say, these efforts always failed. As I look back on those days, it seemed I would go through this religious cycle of trying by my own efforts to live what I understood to be the Christian life and then from my view point, fail. I was ignorant of the fact that God says we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and there is nothing we can do that will make us fit for God's presence and heaven. After high school, I attended Penn State, New Kensington, and graduated with an associate degree. I worked for a few months and in 1964, I was drafted into the army. It was during this period that I developed what I considered my own theology, that as long as we are sincere and honest about what we believe, God will allow us into heaven. Over the years, I have learned that what I thought was my own idea, is the most common but wrong view people have concerning our relationship with God. After being discharged from the army, I worked for about a year and then want back to school. I attended California State Collage (now a university) in California, PA. While attending class, I became friends with Gene. I soon found out that Gene believed that the Bible was the word of God. This surprised me, because at this time, I assumed everyone viewed the Bible as just a book of ancient writings. When I told him what I thought about the Bible, he asked me if I ever read it! He was right. I never read the Bible. Over the next several weeks, Gene and I had several conversations about the Bible and Christianity. I learned that Gene believed that we can know in this life that we are going to heaven. At first, I was surprised at such a statement. No one, I thought, can know that until they die. I eventually moved off campus and rented a room in the second floor of a privately owned home. Another student, Joe, was renting there also. Joe came to me one day and told me how he got "saved" over the previous weekend. He went on to explain that as a helpless sinner, he came to and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ who forgave him and saved his soul for all eternity. In other words, he now knew he was going to be in heaven! As I look back on these events, I now see how a loving and gracious God was, making me realize that I was also a helpless sinner in need of God's salvation. On a spring day in 1970, Joe told me that in the evening some Christians were going to be preaching the gospel on a street corner in the small town of California, PA. I went to town that evening and listened to the preaching and met some of the Christians who were preaching. They were from two Christian assemblies in Donora and McKeesport, PA. I was soon invited to hear the gospel preached at Donora. I attended the meeting and heard a clear gospel how that Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again the third day. I'll never forget the verse on the wall, directly behind the preacher; it was John 3:16
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." A few weeks later, I attended a similar gospel meeting in McKeesport. Over the next few weeks, I attended gospel meetings at both Donora and McKeesport. By this time, the Christians had given me a bible and several pamphlets that described and explained God's way of salvation. It was now the summer of 1970 and I was attending school full time to complete my last semester. I decided that with the gospel papers and the Bible, I would learn how to get saved on my own. But the harder I tried to get saved, the more impossible it seemed. As I look back on that summer, I now realize that God was teaching me that salvation is God's work and my efforts, no matter how sincere, could never take away my sin and make me fit for God's presence. Hidden behind these self efforts was my pride that I could do it on my own. How wrong I was. At the end of that summer, I got in touch with the Christians at Donora and McKeesport and began attending gospel meetings at both assemblies. As I listened to the gospel, I began to realize that God's salvation is not religious efforts or personal works, but a person. That person is God's beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. On the evening of Oct. 13, 1970, as a lost soul in need of salvation, I trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." God gave me the assurance that my sins were forgiven because I trusted in Christ. It was not my understanding or self efforts, but the finished work of Christ Other pages in this section
One person has commented on this article. 1. Untitled Your Name, Unregistered Praise the Lord for you brother. I am five months older than you and I got saved earlier too. I was thirteen when I realized how sinful I am and needed salvation. I struggled for the whole summer of 53. I prayed, fasted, punished my self and did all the requirements that I thought will bring me close to God. Finally, after failing over and over again, I gave up and was extremely discouraged. My sins were overwhelming me. The Lord sent a brother my way who was newly saved and was about ten years older. I asked him how can one get saved. He told me that I had to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on my behalf on the cross. Praise the Lord who does give salvation and assurance. I did kneel down and asked Him to take away my sins and save me. He filled my heart and life with His light and joy. The Lord was with me all these years. When I was twenty one I got married to a fine young believer and by God's grace we had eight children, five boys and three girls. The Lord allowed us to start a Christian school in the montains of Lebanon. Now it is used as a Christian camp as well as school. By the way, all our children are saved by His grace and so far we have twenty one grand kids. We are praying that all will be saved. Most of them confess Him as savior. May He be pleased to save all of them. To Him be all the glory and honor. Thank you for your testimony. In Christ our Lord, Hala Daghfal. Posted 2009-04-06 12:52:20 |
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