I was 20 years old and had no family. I was alone. No dad or mom to call for help, no one to tell me those four wonderful words, "I love you, son."
Then one day I met a preacher who changed my life. I was beginning to sink farther down into a world of sin when Pastor Ron Lucas decided to help me. He began to spend time with me. He took me to hear other preachers and visit folks from the church. He took me out to eat.
Knowing I had no family, he made this time very special to me. It was genuine, real, and sincere. It was a true picture of the love of Christ.
Then one day, after spending much time with him and his family, he said four words I'll never forget: "I love you, son." I had never heard those words from a father figure.
He continued to express his and his family's love for me. A few months later they adopted me. I finally had the family I had always longed for.
But that wasn't the first time I was adopted into a family.
When I was 19 years old, I realized that I was lost in my sin and on my way to hell. I was a stranger – all alone with no family, no love, and worst of all, no Saviour.
Then one day I learned that God loved me so much He gave His only Son to die for my sin. I learned that the Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
I learned that there was a price that had to be paid for my sin, and that price was death. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23). And also, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).
If I were to die without the Saviour, I would spend eternity in hell, separated from God. The Bibls says, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15).
I chose to believe what the Bible says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13). I believed that Jesus died for my sin, and I asked Him to save me. The Bible says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9,10).
According to the Bible, the day I asked the Lord to save me, I was adopted into God's family. I became a child of God. "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), and "that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:5b)
Friends, have you ever asked Him to forgive you of your sins, and to save you?
You too can be "adopted" into God's family. If you believe Jesus died for your sins and you want Him to save you, may I suggest you ask the Lord right now:
Lord, I know I am a sinner, and that according to Your word I am lost and on my way to hell. I believe You died on the cross to pay the price for my sin. Please forgive me of my sin. Come into my heart and save me. Lord, help me to live for You. Thank You for adopting me into Your family. In Jesus' name, Amen.
