Get My Point??

My Anniversary with TT

by Judy Ballentine

Yep, you read it right....this week’s column with The Tallassee Times will be my 52nd week!! Time sure does fly, and this proves it one more time! Seems like just last week that Michael Butler was so kind as to allow me to write this column each week! As I continued to number them for my own records, I could hardly believe it when I suddenly reached 50!! (I’m referring to the column!! of course it also applies to the day I turned ....oh, never mind!)

Looking back over the past 52 articles, I realize how much I have come to enjoy writing them each week. It’s also a pleasure to receive kind words from readers who enjoy them. Thanks to all of you who have posted compliments on the Opinions page of the Times, and to those who have simply sent me emails saying they enjoyed reading them. Beginning next week, of course, I will start year two if I am blessed to continue.

Thinking about a new year ahead from any type anniversary is usually special. Of course there are those anniversaries such as losing a loved one, remembering a painful surgery, a near-death experience, divorce, break-ups in families, children leaving home...and many more that we remember the exact dates and times always. They are even painful to remember, yet we do because they were so painful.

But all of us also have the good memories that go with anniversaries. The birth of a child, a marriage, starting a new job, going into business for yourself, meeting just that right person, going off to college, getting your driver’s license, your first car, retirement....and on and on.

Among all of those mentioned above, there’s one most important decision that will either belong in the first list of sad things or in the second list of great things. And to be honest, some of you might have this particular experience to belong a little in both. What am I referring to?

If you died right now, before you finished reading this article, where would you spend all of eternity? Your answer cannot be, “I don’t know.” You do know. If I asked you if you are married, would you answer, “I don’t know,” or “I think so,” or even “I hope I am.” No, because you know right now if you are married or not married. So you should also know whether you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior or not. Without Jesus, you are not going to Heaven. In John 14:6, Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no person comes to the Father (God), but by me.”

The world will tell you there are lots of ways to God and lots of ways to Heaven. They are all lies. Some “religions” will teach that there are other ways....don’t believe them! You might even have friends or loved ones or “famous” people (i.e. Oprah) who will swear there are many ways to reach God, even to the point of being gods yourself!! All lies. Satan is the father of lies. He is the great Deceiver. He lives to take you to Hell with himself, because he knows he is doomed and his time is running out. So don’t allow him to fool you, friend. Don’t dare fall for anything less than what the true Word of God, the Holy Bible, teaches. Not any other additional books (such as the Mormon bible). Revelation says that anyone who adds to the Holy Bible or takes away from the Holy Bible will be cursed. Don’t allow yourself to go there. I don’t write this column to put down other religions or ideas. I do write it to point others to the one and only Truth....and that Truth is Jesus Christ. He and He alone is the answer for all of us!

So, the point of my subject today is that if you cannot recall an anniversary where this most important experience with Christ took place in your life, now is the time to do so. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and draw you to God the Father. When you are ready to place your life and your future and your eternal life in the hands of the One who died for you, then meet Him on your knees and confess your sins and ask Him to come into your heart and be your Savior. You can’t save yourself. No one else can save you. You can’t go to Heaven on the coattail of your mom or your granddad. You must make this decision yourself. He has never turned anyone away. He won’t ask you to clean yourself up first. He won’t put you on hold until later. When you seek Him you will find Him. (Revelation 3:20).

If any of you choose to make this great decision, blessings to you because it is a date that will forever be engraved in your mind and that anniversary will always be special...the day you made the angels in Heaven sing!!!!

With that said.....I hope I have helped you all to get my point!

**To all of you who might be interested in where my book signing stands, I am in the process of setting it up at this time. The details will be on the Times for sure, so watch for it. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of my book, “No Chance In Hell,” online can find it at www.publishamerica.net and also online at Amazon books, Barnes & Noble, etc. Thank you for your interest and God bless!

- Judy

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