A Missionary's Wife Gets Saved

Written by Pat Christenson

As a child I remembered praying to God at least twice to "save me," But it wasn't until I was 33 years old and had been a missionary wife in Mexico for 9 years that God in His mercy helped me realize from what I needed to be saved!

All those years I had been relying on a prayer for my eternal security - yet I had never truly come face to face with my sin. The Bible speaks volumes about belief (faith in Christ's payment for our sin) as opposed to doing some good work to "earn" salvation. I had no problem with that! But the Bible is also very clear that belief must come with repentance, a “changing of mind,” as it says so clearly in Mark 1:15, “Repent and believe the Gospel.”

1 never remembered being truly broken-hearted over my sin and seeing it the way God does until that moment as a young adult. I do remember thinking until then, “I'm not so bad," and vowing to put things behind me and go on. But deep inside, my thoughts were not right. God said that if one hates in his heart, or thinks lustful thoughts, he is a murderer and adulterer (1 John 3:15, Matthew 5:27). I needed to face that and realize that I was only a helpless sinner deserving nothing but God's just eternal punishment.

On April 8, 1988, I thank God for truly breaking my heart over my sin and helping me realize how lost I was. It was not until my sinful pride was broken that God could give me new spiritual life.

Oh, not a lot changed on the outside, for sure. I was already trying to live by the Bible. But my thoughts and attitudes were changed by God! I now study the Bible out of a desire to be drawn closer to God, not as a daily duty. God has helped me to be more patient, and think more about others. No, I'm not perfect, but I thank God that I am now forgiven!

Please don't deceive yourself as I did for so long. God wants to save you from your sin and its penalty, eternal spiritual death in hell. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” Romans 6:23 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire; this is the second death,” Revelation 20:14. “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9.