I grew up in a Christian home, where both of my parents were both saved (They trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour). They regularly read the Bible to me and my 3 siblings, and faithfully brought us to the meetings at the Springfield Gospel Hall (now O’Leary Gospel Hall), among other special meetings.

There we heard from the Bible that we were sinners heading to Hell, and that we needed to trust in the Lord Jesus to save us from our sins. From an early age I had a desire to be saved, but it was not very urgent to me, and I was too proud/scared to tell my parents I was concerned.

It wasn’t until I was 13 that I started to be serious about it, and I began asking my parents questions and reading Bible verses that explained how to be saved.

John 3:16
[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.

John 3:36
[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Romans 5:6
[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 6:23
[23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

However, I couldn’t seem to ‘figure out’ how to believe, and this struggle continued on for a few years.  When I was 15, I made a false profession where I prayed and said, “Lord, I believe“. Even though I thought I was sincere, I hadn’t acknowledged my sin and my inability to save myself.  A cousin of mine quoted a verse to me, which gave me false security in my profession.

Romans 10:13
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I held onto this until two men, Brody Thibodeau and John Meekin, came to visit me during a series of gospel meetings they were having in Rosebank, Prince Edward Island, in February 2013.  They asked me how I was saved, and I told them my story. When I finished, they wisely asked me, “What gives you assurance” (what made me sure I was truly saved).  At this point I realized I did not have assurance, I was not saved.  They gave me some verses to read, prayed with me, and left.

I went to the meeting that night, but I don’t remember anything that was said. The next day, we went to my uncle’s funeral. The minister was able to tell us that my uncle had trusted the Lord Jesus shortly before he died. This was troubling to me, as I couldn’t see how I could be saved and be sure of it. This might have been the first time I truly believed and accepted that I was going to Hell, and could do nothing to save myself. 

That night on the way to the meeting, there was a tape playing in the car of Christian hymns.  One of the hymns was titled Man of Sorrows, hearing the fourth verse, I saw something for the first time.

Man of sorrows what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

He was lifted up to die;
“It is finished” was his cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

“Man of Sorrows” Verse 1 & 4 – P. P. Bliss

I realized when God (Jesus, who is the son of God) said, “It is finished,” (when he was on the cross) it must be true!  I simply accepted that what Jesus had done on the cross was for me, and I was saved! This is the first time I had true peace.

Romans 5:1
[1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

I can say with confidence that knowing the Lord Jesus as Saviour is the best thing anyone can have in this world.

John 10:27-28
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
[28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.