On January 25, 2009 my body was 56, pushing 57, but in another way was only 39! It was on that date that back in 1970, around 11:25 p.m., that by His merciful grace I gave in to God's tug upon my heart, committed my life to Jesus Christ the King, and began an exciting adventure of life in the Son.

This is an adventure that millions of others have enjoyed over the millenia for, it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

A number of things become new when someone takes the plunge into the life of Jesus Christ. Those that commit to Christ get a new foundation for their life, one that is based on the solid Word of God and the victorious life of Christ. No longer does one have to flounder in the sea of humanity full of thoughts and philosophies. There is no more guesswork. The Word of God is true and eternal.

Nor does one have to yield to their sin nature but can let Christ live through them, Christ Who was tempted in all points, yet without sin.

For me, 1970 turned out to be a very exciting year. Soon after committing my life to Christ, another Christian and I got a ride home from high school by another friend and we had a head on collision with another vehicle. All of us survived and I will save the details for a future Bible Gemlight.

I felt the call to the ministry, applied to only one Bible institute, and was accepted. Just after that, I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2.

All this time I had two unsaved parents watching my behavior which had pretty much drastically changed.

I started serving the Lord, with one outreach being ministry to children in an unsavory area of Newark, NJ. An older lady and I would vist a certain neighborhood. While she did a "chalk talk" about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I took care of the children.

Making another long story short, we were mugged one day and my mom was strongly opposed to me returning to that area. I felt had to return. My pastor stepped in and wrought a comprise to appease both of us.

I then went off to Holy Bible institute, returning Labor Day weekend to be baptized in water to the disapproval of some of my Roman Catholic relatives.

The conclusion of year saw my parents commit to Christ.

Yes, much happened, and still does, that was exciting, and while anyone can have similar adventures, what is "new" to each individual life in Christ is how God speaks to, deals with, and nurtures us as we walk in Him.

Friend, if you have not made Christ truly your King, please do so. The trials are many, but the reward is Eternal Life.