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David Oliver ~ Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Print E-mail

david oliverThe most transcendent biblical experience of my life took place when I was 16. Because of my home life, I was acquainted with the Bible. I was raised by Christian parents in Moncton, New Brunswick, On some occasions more that others, the Bible's statements made me aware that I had sinned. Although I was also aware from the Bible that God viewed me as a sinner by nature, the fact that I had sinned made me guilty before God.

To further this legal metaphor, I understood that God held me accountable for my sins and that this involved eternal judgment. I understood from the Bible that the only way to be spared from this condemnation was to be saved through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As important as this issue became to me, I was able to dismiss it from my mind in various ways. In case anyone would think that I had an unpleasant, restricted, or oppressive childhood, I should insist that I look back to a happy childhood. The most difficult experience in those years was my father's death from cancer when I was almost 10. I'm sure that gave me a more serious outlook on life.

On the evening of April 16 in 1961, I reached the decision that I wanted to have peace with God and be delivered from this cloud of divine condemnation. I turned to the only source of reliable guidance on this subject, the Bible. As I was alone reading the Bible, I understood for the first time that my condemnation was the reason for the death of the Lord Jesus. What opened my eyes to this was Isaiah's prophesy when he wrote as though he were a spectator at the cross although he lived 600 years before Christ came: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." The first part of those words described me and my responsibility for my own sinful choices. The help I needed was in the last part of that quotation. If, as God said through the prophet, those sins were imputed to the crucified Savior, then I was free from the penalty I deserved. The Lord God had laid my sins on His suffering Son when He was on the cross. His suffering and death was for my sins. In legal terms, God would not charge and punish Christ for my sins and then punish me for them. When I first understood this truth, I knew it was significant, but I was uncertain what its significance was. Another Bible verse came to mind: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." By depending on what Christ had done for me when He died, I now knew that I had eternal life.

I knew the Bible taught that this was the same as being saved from judgment. How has this experienced influenced me? It has made me thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ. He has become my personal Savior and Friend. His peace and presence are an indispensable part of my life. I love to tell others about Him. Furthermore, it is impossible to know Him as Savior and not want to become increasingly like Him. I wish I were more like Him and had less tendency to sin. Nevertheless, He has transformed my life and given me power to live righteously. He has preserved me from the many outward sins so prevalent in society and to which my own nature is prone. As a wonderful addition to all of this, one of which I am completely undeserving, He has assured me by His Word, that I will be with Him eternally.


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