Christ died for me!
By C. Donald Chrysler - March 2019
Architectural remains on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (photo by A. Chrysler)
One day while my brother and I were students at the Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music my mother told me that her sister asked her, "What do your boys have that I don't have?" Mother replied, "Why don't you ask them?" After a short telephone call I agreed to visit Aunt Mary and explain the way of salvation to her.
When I arrived that evening I was greeted by Mary, her husband and their upstairs friends, Alice and King. The evening was spent with me explaining the good news of the Gospel; how that God loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins on the cross and if we would just believe in Him we would be saved for eternity. Before leaving for the night I asked if any of them would like to receive Christ as their Savior. The ladies were silent but King shouted out, "I would!" He added, I have been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and they told me to believe in a Higher Power. Now I know who that Higher Power is, its Jesus Christ!"
The ladies remained silent that night but the next time we met I was greeted at the door by a very happy group. I asked, "What happened?" Mary explained that they did not understand at first but during the week following my first visit Alice was doing her dishes and looking out the window when all of a sudden it hit her - Christ died for me! She ran downstairs and said to Mary, "Don't you get it? Christ died for me and Christ died for you!" Mary accepted Christ as her savior and we all rejoiced that night.
When I arrived that evening I was greeted by Mary, her husband and their upstairs friends, Alice and King. The evening was spent with me explaining the good news of the Gospel; how that God loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins on the cross and if we would just believe in Him we would be saved for eternity. Before leaving for the night I asked if any of them would like to receive Christ as their Savior. The ladies were silent but King shouted out, "I would!" He added, I have been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and they told me to believe in a Higher Power. Now I know who that Higher Power is, its Jesus Christ!"
The ladies remained silent that night but the next time we met I was greeted at the door by a very happy group. I asked, "What happened?" Mary explained that they did not understand at first but during the week following my first visit Alice was doing her dishes and looking out the window when all of a sudden it hit her - Christ died for me! She ran downstairs and said to Mary, "Don't you get it? Christ died for me and Christ died for you!" Mary accepted Christ as her savior and we all rejoiced that night.
Mary summed up her faith in the following poem:
Saved Am I
Father in Heaven look down from above,
Give me the words to proclaim your love;
How from the beginning you had your plan,
And how you revealed it to sinful man.
To the Twelve was given the great commission,
To Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
To Israel the Way, the Truth and the Light.
How they turned from you in disbelief and fright.
How their eyesight was dimmed and their hearing made dull,
How the Gentile's chance came by Israel's fall.
How you saved a Jew, Saul of Tarsus by name,
To the Gentiles the Gospel of Grace to proclaim.
To the Church, the one body, the mystery was given,
By the man you caught up into the third Heaven;
How the Jew and Gentile now were the same,
To show us the reason why Jesus came.
To fulfill the law and die for the unjust,
Our precious Savior to be sin for us.
To finish the work on Calvary's tree,
To nail sin to His cross, all men to free.
Oh God, let them know your wonderful plan.
You know how lost without You I am.
Give me the words to let them know
How your blood has washed them white as snow.
"Confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus," You said,
How happy I was when these words I read!
Saved am I, saved by grace,
waiting to look on your wonderful face.
Completely aware of your wonderful plan
Destined to die, God help sinful man.
Give me the words to proclaim your love;
How from the beginning you had your plan,
And how you revealed it to sinful man.
To the Twelve was given the great commission,
To Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
To Israel the Way, the Truth and the Light.
How they turned from you in disbelief and fright.
How their eyesight was dimmed and their hearing made dull,
How the Gentile's chance came by Israel's fall.
How you saved a Jew, Saul of Tarsus by name,
To the Gentiles the Gospel of Grace to proclaim.
To the Church, the one body, the mystery was given,
By the man you caught up into the third Heaven;
How the Jew and Gentile now were the same,
To show us the reason why Jesus came.
To fulfill the law and die for the unjust,
Our precious Savior to be sin for us.
To finish the work on Calvary's tree,
To nail sin to His cross, all men to free.
Oh God, let them know your wonderful plan.
You know how lost without You I am.
Give me the words to let them know
How your blood has washed them white as snow.
"Confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus," You said,
How happy I was when these words I read!
Saved am I, saved by grace,
waiting to look on your wonderful face.
Completely aware of your wonderful plan
Destined to die, God help sinful man.
View to the northeast overlooking the Valley of Hinnom in Jerusalem (photo by A. Chrysler)