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David Derksen ~ London, Ontario Print E-mail

From my earliest days, I was aware that there are no “reruns” of life. As a teen, I memorized many verses such as Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.” This made me frightfully aware that I was accountable to the One who created me, and I didn’t want to spend my eternal existence in that awful place!

I thought, however, that I was pretty good, especially compared to my classmates at school. I ignored the reality that God saw everything I did when no one was looking. University days in London, Ontario led to a graduate program in Biochemistry and soon I was immersed in a fascinating cancer research project. I often thought about the “end” of my life’s journey, while I conducted my experiments. Could I know “for sure” that all is well for eternity?

 

Then, I met a young engineer who had recently been saved. The joy of other Christians at his salvation impressed me. Upon meeting him, it was evident that he too loved the Lord Jesus. I became thirsty for what he had.

 

My ongoing restlessness and anxiety prompted me to consult with my researcher friend and she shared a scripture with me: “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Here was a promise from God to me!

 

I read my Bible trying to understand. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “You must be born again,” told me I had no other options if I was ever to be in God’s heaven.

 

My friend invited me to a Gospel presentation and the preacher spoke on that same scripture, “You shall seek Me and find Me when you seek for Me with all your heart.” I knew God was speaking to me. Another scripture arrested me. It was like a blazing spotlight penetrating the labyrinth of my heart: “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Everything I had ever done and thought was exposed to His searching eye!

 

After the presentation, I read Isaiah 55:7 (a verse I memorized as a teen): “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon!” Pardon was just what I needed!

 

The next morning I decided I must settle the most important thing in my life. Again the command of the Lord, “You must be born again” came before me. I left my car at a gas station and waited there for repairs to be made. I was desperate. I wanted to be saved more than anything else in the world. I cried to God and discovered that if it depended on me, I would never ever be saved. I knew that moment that I would be in hell and nothing prevented me from going there. Right then, I suddenly realized that Jesus died on the cross for sinners and I looked to Him in all my hopelessness.

 

I decided to tell the man at the service desk. “Do you know what happened on your property?” I asked.

 

He answered, “No.”

 

“I just got saved, over there,” I replied, as I pointed to the spot. He did not seem to understand, but I assured him that I was on my way to heaven. How glad I am, even now, for that wonderful encounter with the Son of God.


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