It was the spring revival of 1967, when I was still six, that The LORD dealt very specifically with me about my need of The Savior.
I had been blessed with a dad and a mom, who believed, that Jesus was the most important Person in anyone's life.
My name was placed on the Cradle Roll at church a the week after I was born.
I learned to sing, "Jesus Loves Me," and to repeat John 3:16, almost as quickly as I learned to talk.
I watched my dad play about six hymns on the piano from memory, and I began to bang on the piano, when I was about three.
I knew about Heaven and Hell, when I was a preschooler.
Therefore, on the Thursday evening of that series of revival meetings, the conviction of my own lostness fell on this little boy of the age of six years. I held onto the bench in front of me because I was afraid to walk the aisle, and went to the car as soon as possible, but the conviction was still heavy on me during the car ride home. I started to cry because I knew that if I died in a car accident on the way home, I would have gone to Hell.
When I reached the stoop at the front door of our home, I just started to bellow.
My dad asked, "Son, what is wrong?"
I said, "Daddy, I thought I ought to have gone down forward, tonight!"
"That's okay, Son," he comforted. "We'll take care of that right now."
He led me into the living room and sat me down on the sofa, which was next to the door of the dining room. He showed me verses of Scripture, like John 3:16 and The Romans Road, (I am pretty sure he did this because that was his practice, even though I can't remember every verse he used that night to this very day.)
I prayed and asked The Lord into my heart to be my Savior. Being unsure of every little thing, I asked, "Daddy, do you think The LORD will let me live long enough so I can go back to church to get saved tomorrow night?" He assured me, that I didn't have to wait to be saved. Doing business with The LORD that very night was all that was necessary to being saved.
I certainly rested peacefully that night.
Yet, I nearly ran down the aisle the following night during the altar call to make my salvation experience public. However, I was still a little timid about expressing that testimony to the crowd. So, my dad had to speak the words.
I have felt a little ashamed of my responses to people as I left the church that night. I told people, "Wish me luck!" (I have since learned about the origins of the term, "luck," and as such I have stopped using that expression, but it does remain a part of my testimony I wish I could "do over," even though I realize it was just the inexperience of a little boy, who had picked up a phrase on television.)
Two days later on Sunday, I was baptized and partook of The LORD's Supper for the first time.
Yay! Everything is new!
New eternal destination? YES!
New desire to please The LORD? YES!
Stopped being a little boy? NO!
The first time my dad had to paddle me for some interpersonal infraction and/or sin, after I got saved, I broke down and cried. "I thought I got saved and that I wouldn't sin any more!"
Lesson #1 on the Upward Way: We get saved, but learning how to live a righteous and a holy life in a lifelong process. It is completed at physical death.
That was a little disheartening.
Doubts about salvation, during the low spots of my Christian walk have been disheartening.
Deliverance from being afflicted by demons in 2011 has helped immensely, but still the Upward Way is a climb. It's not a run.
Comfort has come in many forms, not the least of which is others telling me that they see Jesus in me. Furthermore, an expression I learned a few years ago has become a dear friend and companion, who walks with The LORD and with me.
"The evidence of the reality of salvation is a long obedience in the same direction. That direction is Jesus."
Amen.
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