It’s a New Life!

A couple of months ago, I watched Billy Graham’s special message— perhaps his last, The Cross. For his 95th birthday, he wanted to reach out once again with the Gospel message that he’s so faithfully preached for more than 60 years. Even though Billy Graham is elderly and frail, his words still ring out with passion for those who don’t yet know Jesus.

While I watched the presentation, my thoughts raced back through the years. I remembered when Billy Graham came to Okinawa, Japan where my husband Randy was stationed with the Air Force in the late 1970s. Several friends and I, along with our young sons, Chris and Jeremy, headed to the stadium that night. It was packed. We climbed up nearly to the top row to find seats. As a new Christian, I felt moved by the evangelist’s message.  In his soft-spoken North Carolina drawl, he pleaded : Y’all come to accept Jesus. Come just as you are. Tears of gratitude and hope slid down my cheeks.

Jeremy, only 5 years-old, stood up and announced that he had to go forward. I assured him that we could pray right where we were . . . but he insisted. No, I have to go down there!  How could we discourage this child’s faith?

We made our way through the crowd. I looked around in amazement. There were more people on the field than in the stands. Our little group held hands and prayed as Chris and Jeremy both accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior that night.

I know without a doubt that each of our lives was profoundly changed because of those tiny seeds of faith planted on Okinawa. My husband Randy missed the Billy Graham event because he was on temporary duty in Korea. But God didn’t miss him—not by a long shot! Randy gave his life to Jesus many years later.

I believe God makes our lives new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

This isn’t a recycled version of your old life. This is something brand new. It isn’t an instantaneous change, but a gradual process. One day you realize you are becoming more like  Jesus. What a miracle!

Here are some of the benefits of finding new life in Christ:

New Attitudes

Instead of being a product of your past, you begin to see yourself as having infinite value because you are a child of God. You don’t have to measure up, keep up or give up.

New Hope

You begin to believe that change is possible because all things are possible with God.

New Purpose

Your life matters because God has a plan and purpose for you being here.

As I look into this New Year, I am excited to see what God has in store. How about you?

God makes our lives new. @Grit_Grace @DebKalmbach
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