My Testimony of Salvation (continued-page2)

by Gene Easley

    One day, I decided the transfer was the thing to do.  I didn’t understand the reason why, but now I just felt good about it.  I went to my roommate and told him my decision: “I’m going to go to Arkansas State next semester.”  I suddenly felt like a burden had been lifted.  I walked around the campus the rest of that day feeling so happy I wanted to sing.  I found myself whistling a tune as I went from place to place.  I didn’t understand it then, but now I understand that it was God reaching down to me, bringing me to Himself.  

    I began preparations, writing Arkansas State, requesting permission to enter the second semester, and letting the Ole Miss officials know of my decision.  All seemed to be moving so fast.  Before the Christmas break, I had received my acceptance from Arkansas, and the transfer was finalized.  

    On Christmas break, I went to see one of my friends, James Furr, who had been in my graduation class at Osceola High.  He had entered Arkansas State during the first semester.  He was working during Christmas break at a local clothing store.  When I went in the store and told him of my decision to transfer, his reaction was, “Oh, good.  My roommate is going to change to another dormitory at the beginning of the second semester.  If you like, we could be roommates.”  Of course, I gladly accepted.  It was good to be able to room with someone I had known for years.  But there was something that I didn’t know at that time.  James had accepted Christ during that first semester, and his life had totally changed.  

    When I arrived at Arkansas State in January, the semester had already begun, and I had to register a few days late.  While registering, I was asked which dorm I would like to live in.  I gave them the dormitory name and room number of my friend’s room.  The lady checked to see if the room was available.  Then she said, “Well, there is a vacancy there.  One of the students who was in that room just moved out this morning.”  I moved in, and, without doubt, was able to see the hand of God working in my life.  

The Experience of Salvation  

    The first couple of days there, I didn’t get to talk much with James.  I saw him a time or two as we were going to class.  But as soon as classes were over, he drove back to Osceola to attend special services in his church.  This sounded strange to me.  Why would anyone drive fifty miles each afternoon and then have to drive back to the dorm late at night?  He did this night after night.  By Wednesday of that first week, we were both in the room for a while at the same time, and James began to explain the change in his life.  

    He told me that during the first semester of college God had saved him and had changed him.  At first when he told me that God had saved him, I started to laugh.  I was totally unfamiliar with that terminology.  I did not know what saved meant.  James had always been someone with a real sense of humor, and I thought he was attempting to say something funny.  But from his tone, I could tell he was serious.  So, I tried to listen and comprehend his words.  In reality, the only thing that made sense was that God had done something wonderful in his life, and things were different now.  

    That Friday afternoon, when James went home for the weekend, he offered me a ride.  Since I didn’t have a car, I accepted.  When he dropped me off at my house, he invited me to church Sunday morning.  I quickly declined with the excuse that I didn’t have anything to wear.  He just as quickly said, “Just wear what you have on.  That will be fine.”  So, I said okay.  I really wanted to go, but through all that had transpired in the last few months, I had virtually forgotten my promise to myself to start attending church.  

    Sunday morning came, and James was there to pick me up.  I went both Sunday morning and Sunday night.  James returned to Jonesboro right after the Sunday night service, so I had to attend the Sunday night service to catch my ride back to campus.  I quickly grew to love that church.  I felt a love there that I had not known before.  Although the congregation was small, they had a touch of God, and I soaked in everything.  I attended faithfully each Sunday morning and night.  On the third Sunday after the evening service, the pastor gave an altar call.  I didn’t even know what an altar call was.  I was sitting beside James, and he asked me, “Gene, would you like to go down to the altar and pray?”  I had watched the people praying at the altars and had been impressed by it.  I thought it was great that they were not ashamed to let others see them bow down before God in public and pray.  So, I gladly said, “Yes,” to James’ invitation.  

    When I knelt down at the altar, James put his hand upon my shoulder and began to pray a simple prayer, “God, save him.”  I still didn’t understand what the term, “saved,” meant.  I found myself wishing there was some way I could just slip out of that church without anyone seeing me.  But I knew that was impossible, and I really didn’t want to embarrass my friend.  So, I just stayed there on my knees.  

    Others in the church thought I had come down to be saved, so they began to stand behind me and pray, “God save him.”  I was there kneeling at the altar with my head down.  I looked up and saw an elderly lady of the church seated across from me, looking straight at me, and praying such a sincere prayer, “God save him.”  I knew then this thing was serious.  My attitude by then was that if what they are talking about is something I need, then I want it.  I want everything God has for me.  

    But I still didn’t understand what it meant to be saved, until God began to speak to me.  I suddenly felt that I was on the outside looking in, and all the people in that church were on the inside.  They all had communion with God, and I was on the outside.  I felt spiritually alienated from God.  I felt like I was lost. Suddenly, it came to me!  That is what they are saying!  I am lost, and I need to be saved!  When that revelation hit me, I began to pray, “God save me!”  As I prayed, I realized that I was lost and that my soul was destined to an eternity in hell.  As this became more real to me, I prayed with more intensity.  I actually felt that if I didn’t get saved then, that I would slip into an eternal hell.  Suddenly, the joy of God flooded my soul, and I knew I was saved.  There was no doubt in my mind.  I knew the work was done.  I knew I was saved!   

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