" From a PRISONER to a PREACHER "

A Prosperous Boy.

My life started in 1928, one cold day on December 28th. That was a year of prosperity in America just before the '29 crash. I grew up in a poor family financially, but a family of high morals with no drinking, dancing, or anything unclean. My Daddy was a hard worker who had some small produce trucks. Every summer I was on one of them learning how to sell produce and make money. The desire to work and make money always had me. When I was eleven years old, I had a horse and wagon, and was peddling from house to house in Houston. I saved every dime, and when I was seventeen, I left home with a good truck that was paid for. Two years later I got my second truck. THEN my trouble started.

A Prisoner of the Devil.

Since the age of seventeen, I had smoked marijuana, but not to excess. At eighteen, I took a few shots of dope, but this didn't satisfy me. I wanted some trucks, a pocketful of money, and a gang of hoodlum friends. Never did I want to be chained to some habit. At the age of twenty, heroin took her awful hold, and all I could do was not enough to shake it. I quit, left town, prayed, and asked preachers to pray for me, but I was chained by the Devil.

     The years from twenty to twenty-five were the most horrible years of existence I had ever known or read about. My family was gone, the trucks were gone, and friends were gone. What was once a good kid was now a hopeless drug addict. After being in jail for vagrancy, theft, felony theft, burglary, and possession of heroin, I decided to take "a cure." I spent forty days in a hospital; however, two days after I was out, I had a needle in my arm. There was no cure. The federal man said, "Lady, forget this boy. There is no hope for him. Once a drug addict, always a drug addict. He is chained !"

A Problem to Everyone.

The city I lived in never wanted me. Many times some policeman would say, "Jack, go somewhere else." I was often in trouble or in jail for robbing, stealing, and writing bad checks. I was a real problem to everyone. One day my daughter came into the house and told my Mother that the little girl next door could not play with her anymore because her Daddy was a dope fiend. Yes, no man lives to himself or dies to himself.

     I decided that maybe the U.S. Army could help me. After nearly one year, with only eighty-three good days spent in service, I was discharged with an undesirable discharge. Written across the bottom of the discharge were the words: "Reason for discharge-Narcotic." The Army took me in handcuffs to a J.C. Penney store, bought me a suit of clothes, gave me a train ticket, and sent me back to Texas.

Pardoned by JESUS CHRIST.

When I was in jail and the Army stockade, I would read the Bible. Many times I went to a Chaplain or Preacher for help. I attended a Catholic church and later joined a Baptist church. I tried everything I knew. I prayed every day for GOD to help me be free from this habit. When I moved from Texas to California, my Mother wrote a letter to me telling of a friend who had been saved and was now Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cypress, California. Out of curiosity, I went to this church. This Pastor told me what GOD had done for him. I went regularly for a month to see if GOD could do the same for me.

     On October 12th. 1953, I went down to the altar, and on my knees I asked CHRIST to save me from drugs, death, and Hell. I was not made perfect, but that day my load of sin was lifted, and a desire was put in my heart to live for JESUS always.

A Preacher of the Gospel.

I had only been saved about three weeks, when I knew that GOD wanted me to preach. I walked down the same aisle where I was saved and surrendered my life to JESUS for service. For twenty-two years I've tried to preach and live for HIM. It has not been a bed of roses, nor has it been glamorous. The rocks in my way have been many, but GOD has brought me on. This same thing can happen to you if you are willing to let JESUS CHRIST take over your life which you have wrecked.  J.W.

GOD'S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION

"For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;" (Romans 3:23)

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4)

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS mercy HE saved us. . ." (Titus 3:5a)

". . .except ye repent (turn to GOD from your sin), ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . .For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10,13)

". . .Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved. . ." (Acts 16:31)

"But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2nd.Corinthians 5:17)

The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like it with all your heart:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

 

" The ONLY Doorway "

 

JESUS IS THE DOOR TO HEAVEN.

JESUS is the door. . . HE said in John 10:9, "I AM the door: by ME if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." JESUS is the way. . . "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man comes unto the FATHER, but by ME." (John 14:6).

JESUS IS THE ONLY DOORWAY TO HEAVEN.

My Friend, let me ask you a most important question. Are you trying to enter Heaven some other way than through the way JESUS provided ? If you are, JESUS said you are a thief and a robber. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1).

There is no other way to get to Heaven. Religion is not the way ! The preacher or priest is not the way ! Water baptism is not the way ! Church membership is not the way ! Being born to Christian parents is not the way ! Being a moral person is not the way ! Doing good works is not the way !

The Bible states in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." There is nothing you can do to earn salvation or your way into Heaven. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64:6a). Only by receiving JESUS CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR can you enter into Heaven.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4).

JESUS said in Mark 1:15, ". . .repent ye, and believe the Gospel." Believing the Gospel is believing ". . .that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:3,4). JESUS died on the cross, was buried, and was resurrected by the power of GOD for our salvation. "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

HOW CAN YOU ENTER THE DOOR ?

You enter the door by asking JESUS to come into your heart and save you. "But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name:" (John 1:12). The Bible states, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . .For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10,13).

Don't let the Devil deceive you by making you believe there is some other way. The Bible says that the Devil ". . .is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44b). Eternal salvation is a free gift to all who will simply receive JESUS CHRIST into their heart. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Now of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9).

My Friend, if you want to be sure that you are saved and Heaven will be your home, pray this simple prayer or one like it, with all your heart:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

The Bible says in John 3:36, "He that believes on the SON has everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him." PLEASE don't reject the Gospel ! TRUST CHRIST today !

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" The Greatest Tragedy "

     When we hear of catastrophes, earthquakes, floods, airplane crashes, etc., we are shocked at the resulting loss of so many human lives. But the greatest tragedy is for someone to die who could have been saved !

     The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah was terrible. Suddenly all the inhabitants were destroyed by fire and brimstone falling from Heaven. The greatest tragedy, however, was not that they perished, but that they could have been saved. Lot warned his sons-in-law in Genesis 19:14, but "he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law."  And they died, although they could have been saved.

     It was a worldwide catastrophe when the flood broke out. We read in the Bible, "The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of Heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the Earth forty day and forty nights" (Genesis 7:11-12). How the people must have desperately fought to save their lives ! But JESUS said later on, "The flood came, and took them all away."

     Was that the greatest tragedy ? No, what was worse was the fact that they had had the opportunity of salvation before their eyes for 120 years. But JESUS said of them, "They knew not." They let the LORD HIMSELF close the door of the ark without ever having used it.

     We must see this clearly. According to the Law of the Bible, "There is NONE righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). But GOD, in HIS great love with which HE has loved us, sent HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, and accomplished the greatest thing in the history of mankind. HE brought forth salvation when HE shed HIS blood for your sins and mine on Calvary's cross. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached  unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4). Not only did HE die, but HE also arose from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25).

     Now you can avoid the greatest tragedy. For almost 2000 years the LORD GOD has caused the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST to be preached throughout the world. The warning is going out even to this day, "We pray you in CHRIST's stead, be ye reconciled to GOD" (2nd.Corinthians 5:20).

     The commission of the Church of JESUS CHRIST on Earth will soon reach its conclusion. The events which are taking place before our eyes fulfill so precisely the Prophetic WORD that even the simple cannot fail to see that we are living in the last times.

     My question to you now is, have you accepted GOD's offer of mercy ? Have you received JESUS, WHO shed HIS blood for your sins, as your personal SAVIOR ? Are you saved for eternity ? Perhaps you will say, "No," or, "I don't know." Then the greatest tragedy can befall you. What is that ? You will be eternally lost and condemned to the Lake of Fire forever. Avoid the greatest tragedy and come to JESUS this very moment. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:6, "Seek ye the LORD while HE may be found, call ye upon HIM while HE is near."

     If there is darkness in your heart, if you are tormented by your past sins, if your consciences is sin-laden, you are being offered in JESUS CHRIST full forgiveness and a glorious salvation and a home in Heaven. JESUS said, "Him that comes to ME I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). If you read these lines and know that this means you, then immediately go to your knees and call on GOD through the LORD JESUS CHRIST in this simple prayer or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

Tell HIM in truth and repentance (turning to GOD from your sin), "Yes, LORD JESUS, I accept YOU as my SAVIOR ." Thus you will avert the greatest tragedy in your life, namely to be lost forever when you could have been eternally saved. Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

 

" 1 % GUILTY "

All who accept the sacrifice of JESUS receive

TOTAL  PARDON 

THE PRISONER spoke: "I've never sold drugs, I've never cheated on my income taxes, I've never abused my wife, I've never . . ."

"Wait a minute," the attorney interrupted, "Did you or did you not rob the bank ?"

"Well I give blood, I've served in the Army and I . . ." 

"Wait a minute. Did you or did you not . . .?"

"Yes, I did. But I've done so many good things ! I'm only 1% guilty !"

One day you will stand before a JUDGE and you may say:

 - I've never robbed or murdered anyone.

 - I help the poor.

 - I was good to my family. 

 - I may have done a few bad things, but so did everyone else.

 - I'm only 1% guilty !

And the JUDGE will say, "For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10). 

So it will be for all of us when we stand before GOD.

2nd.Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

GOD has provided a way to be declared "not guilty": HE sent HIS own SON to die for the sins of all mankind, past, present & future. 1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4 gives us the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" JESUS CHRIST totally without sin, died for the sins of all mankind, and paid them in full. 1st.Peter 3:18, "For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD. . ."

All who accept the sacrifice of JESUS receive total pardon and cleansing and can stand before GOD without fear. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:9-10,13.

Jude 1:24-25, "Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of HIS glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise GOD our SAVIOR, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever."

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance (turning to GOD from your sin)" in Romans 2:4. If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

JESUS said, "If the SON therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36 and "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come in condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

 

" HELL isn't for HEROES ! "

 

"See you in Hell tonight !" call out the patrons of a night club which chose this name for the publicity. Others, equally as flippant, say they want to go to Hell -- "Look at all the famous company I'll be in !"

Don't delude yourself ! There is no "company" in Hell. Only hatred. Total separation from everyone. Yes, there are many famous heroes in Hell, but they will give you no enjoyment. Hell is total suffering and agony -- unrelieved by any joy whatsoever and totally alone.

"Go to Hell !" say many with ease and frequency. Yet they say that they aren't sure whether there is a Hell. They live and act as if death ends everything. But their very use of such language shows that deep within them they feel that those who are wrong should be punished.

And this is exactly why there is a Devil's Hell: because GOD is good. Goodness is gone if it tolerates badness (evil). To maintain HIS goodness, GOD must completely triumph over evil.

There is a GOD. There is a Heaven. There must also be a Hell. GOD is a GOD of justice as well as love. HE has clearly revealed that this is HIS nature, and man plays the fool when he thinks that he can set up the rules in the universe which GOD has created.

It is impossible to describe Hell in languages which we can understand. People suffering excruciating pain or mental torment say that they are "in Hell." You've heard that "War is Hell." These are only partly right. On Earth there is still relief in drugs or sleep, and there is always hope. In a Devil's Hell there is absolute physical and mental suffering -- and there is NO HOPE.

The Bible uses the ideas of total darkness and the pain of burning to give us some conception of Hell:

"Then shall he say also unto them on

the left hand, Depart from ME, ye

cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared 

for the Devil and his angels."

(Matthew 25:41)

"The same shall drink of the wine of the

wrath of GOD . . . and he shall be 

tormented with fire and brimstone."

(Revelation 14:10)

"Bind him hand and foot, and take him

away, and cast him into outer darkness;

there shall be weeping and 

gnashing of teeth."

(Matthew 22:13)

Of whom do these verses speak ? The answer is clear:

"The wicked shall be turned into hell."

(Psalm 9:17)

"He that believes and is baptized shall

be saved; BUT he that believes not

shall be damned."

(Mark 16:16)

"For if we sin willfully after that we

have received the knowledge of the 

truth, there remains no more sacrifice

for sins, but a certain fearful looking

for of judgment and fiery indignation."

(Hebrews 10:26,27)

"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell ?" was the question JESUS asked in Matthew 23:33. But the Bible gives a clear answer:

"Repent (turning to GOD from your sin) ye;

for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

(Matthew 3:2)

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which

I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and

wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also

received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according

to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE

rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:"

(1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4)

"Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and 

thou shalt be saved."

(Acts 16:31)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD 

JESUS and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD 

hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be 

saved. For with the heart man believes unto

righteousness; and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation. . . For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."

(Romans 10:9-10,13)

Have you ever read of those confined for years in total darkness? Have you ever been severely burned? Imagine suffering these fearful physical tortures plus the anguish of knowing that it is forever and that you are permanently separated from GOD and everything that is good. 

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the 

hands of the living GOD."

(Hebrews 10:31)

FLEE  FROM  THE  WRATH  TO  COME !

The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie