Sixty years ago today was the happiest of my life. Last Sat 27th I happened to go for a walk, down to the creek where I often go. As I looked across to the park around the creek, I saw a big familiar marquee. I knew immediately it was the annual beach mission set up for anther 10 days.
So of course I went across to see if anyone was there. I do this each year, find someone over there to see if I could encourage them with the story of the happiest day of my life. I did find a lad called Matthew from Sydney. "I'll be praying for your ministry," I said, "and its because of this ministry I know Jesus, it will be 60 years ago on January 4th! God has kept me true to Him."
I didn't tell Matthew the full story of how I encouraged my sister to learn the memory passage in January 1966 at the beach mission (an interdenominational group mainly from Sydney) so as we would earn the book prize. In those days books were valuable. On collecting the book prizes my sister's teacher asked where my sister was, "Back at the tent", I replied. As we walked up from the park to the tent Miss Gummerson began to ask me if I knew what the verses I learned meant. As a child I hadn't thought much about those beautiful words.
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1
John 1: 7-9
This Illuminated text I did years ago of my salvation verses, and it hangs in our loungeroom, testimony of God's saving work.
l learnt these verses simply to
win a book prize, but I gained oh, so much
more. Until this day in 1966 I'd never realised it was my sin that put Jesus on the cross, as He took my punishment. So under those trees I prayed for for forgiveness from sin, accepting Jesus as my Saviour. I passed from death to life, instead of eternal condemnation I now had eternal life, covered by the blood of Jesus. That dear teacher told me the verse that the angels are rejoicing in heaven..
Luke 15:10 "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." This filled my heart with wondrous joy! When we went back to our tent and I told my mother I'd just asked Jesus to be my Saviour. She burst into tears, something she rarely did. A long time later when I asked her why, her reply surprised me, "Because you looked so happy". And I was, I had a home in heaven, I'd made the angels rejoice, and I went down to the beach and sang with all my heart the beach mission songs I love even today.
Things that are eternal, like what I gained that day, eternal life with our Saviour - they make life worth living.
To close I'd like to share this short video by Joni Eareckson Tada, or link here.
The verse which Joni refers to is:
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined (or resolved) not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. This is best daily resolution for 2026!
Thank you for popping over and thanks too if you are able to comment.
Prayer hugs in Him, 🙏🤗 Shaz in Oz.x
If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?
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