I was raised in a very devout Roman Catholic family. I did everything that
was expected for me to do; I attended mass, first Fridays and novenas,
received sacraments, when to Catholic schools, wore a scapular, prayed the
rosary, fasted, purchased indulgences, and was an altar boy.
I stopped going to church knowing that there was no assurance of salvation in
the Roman Catholic Church. I knew I was going to hell, and I was right.
Without accepting Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and God, by faith alone,
through grace alone, the highway leads to hell. I lived my life to the
fullest. Life is short, hell is forever, party hearty!
I went to an Eddie Murphy concert when he was on his way to the top. The
movie '48 Hours' had just been released, he was a well-known comedian and had
a top 40 hit. People made a big deal out of Eddie coming to town and I got
caught up in the fanfare. I said if Eddie can make it to the top, I can too.
That night I went home and told my wife I wanted to sell our house and move
out west.
We moved to Seattle, Washington, and lived the good life. I had a good job,
lots of money and lived well. However, I felt a void in my life and started a
search to fill it. I tried Islam, Scientology and hung out with the Jehovah's
Witnesses. Nothing could fill that void.
I started to read the Bible and see the errors of the Roman Catholic Church,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, and Scientology. I accepted Jesus Christ as
Savior, Lord and God, by faith alone, through grace alone in 1990. He has
made changes in me that no religion could make. He changed my life forever.
About two years after accepting Jesus, I was in church for a Sunday evening
service. The pastor of the church challenged us to come out with him to a
local college and talk to the students about salvation. I accepted the
challenge and watched as students denied the existence of God and placed
Jesus in the same category as Buddha, Muhammed, etc.
After a few weeks and some Bible memorization, I found myself speaking to the
students myself. The Lord had given me the gift of evangelism, and I had
discovered my precious gift. The Lord has used me to evangelize in malls,
parks, beaches and public meeting places in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.
To His glory and honor, He has brought many strayed sheep back to Him.
Have you read my testimony and feel the same void in your life? Do you feel
that you sin too much for God to accept you? Were you raised in a religion
that depends on you saving yourself rather than God saving you? Fear not, God
is waiting for you with open arms. Come as you are, God will accept you if
you truly desire Him. The changes will come after you trust Jesus as your
Savior and Lord. I am living proof that God does exist.
John 3:16-18, 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.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
In His love,
Jim Sawchak