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At age seventeen my awareness of life was growing. Perhaps this is why, when I came out of a movie one night, I was really feeling low. I don't remember what the movie was about, but it started me thinking about life and death issues.
As I walked home, I looked up at the stars, and overwhelmed by the immensity of God's creation I said out loud, God, there must be more to life than this.
In a matter of weeks, God replied. It was Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948. My mother insisted that I go to church because it was Easter. I went, grudgingly, determined not to listen to anything the preacher said. And I didn't.
I got a ride home from church with a college friend of my sister's, Tal McNutt. The ride was uneventful until we pulled up in front of my house. Just as I was opening the door to get out, Tal put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Andy, before you go, I want to ask you something."
I closed the door and listened. He asked, "Andy, are you ready for eternity?"
In time past, whenever this question was raised, I would always laugh and say, "I'll wait until I'm an old man to worry about that." But at this moment, I was stunned. I always believed in God and even believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. But now the question struck me with fear. I knew that I wasn't ready.
Tears began to course down my cheeks, and I asked, "What does the Bible say about being ready?"
Tal quoted John 3:16. "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."
At that moment it was as though a light bulb came on in my head. Instantly I understood. I always believed that Christ died for the salvation of sinners, but now I understood that He did it for me.
My tears turned to sobs--sobs of joy. It was as though a great burden had been lifted! At that moment I knew I was ready for eternity.
Are you ready?
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