Mark 8:36-37 - Fifty Years Ago Today

Today, Sunday February 21 Mark 8:36-37 Everything changed for me fifty years ago today!!!! It happened on Sunday, February 21, 1971, about 4pm in the afternoon, just north of Cincinnati Ohio, in the home of Dr. Harold and Sylvia Rawlings that was located on Landmark Baptist Temple property. I was nineteen years old. When I was young my dad strongly encouraged me to memorize scripture and one of the verses I committed to memory was Mark 8:36-37 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Little did I know how the Lord would use this verse years later to bring me under conviction and lead me to ask Jesus Christ into my heart and life. I had prayed a prayer to get saved when I was six years old and was baptized a few weeks later. But during my teenage years it was obvious that I only had Jesus in my head and not in my heart. By the time I was nineteen I was beginning to achieve all the things in life I thought would bring me success, fulfilment and happiness. But my heart was still very empty and dark. I trust you will listen to this Pastor’s Chat as I share my testimony of God’s saving grace that forever changed my life fifty years ago today! On that Sunday afternoon, 2 Corinthians 5:17 became a reality for me. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” My sins were all forgiven, the burden of my guilt was gone, the darkness was lifted, and I felt like I could really see for the first time in my life! Thank the Lord for His cross and His saving Grace!!!!!! God bless!