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I’m Tom and this is my story.

I was born into a Roman Catholic family in a small New England town, and raised during a time when life was supposed to be simple. But I was a rascal at an early age. Even though I was an Altar Boy at church, I acted out behind the Priest’s back. When I frequented the indoor theater, I threw candy at the movie screen. At the age of ten, I even helped my buddies vandalize a vacant house. And I was just warming up.

By the time I graduated high school, I was restless and wanted freedom from the confines of my home and neighborhood. I joined the U.S. Navy, where I became totally unraveled. Girls, alcohol, and drugs were no strangers to me. In time, I became a druggie, and soon my carefree lifestyle caught up with me, forcing me into the naval hospital for a couple of weeks.

After being honorably discharged from the navy, I was on my way to becoming a full-fledged hippie. I grew my hair long, drove my multi-colored Volkswagen bus, and was usually high on weed. Eventually, I became a drug dealer. I was undone, inside and out.

My messed-up life continued, but I had a steady job, and by this time I was driving to work in an old Ford van that only had AM radio frequency. I missed my rock-and-roll, but I craved background noise, so I had to listen to the only radio station available, which was a Christian station with non-stop sermons and Christian music.

On one particular morning, I heard something that caught my ear, so I pulled over to the side of the road to give it my attention. The preacher was saying something about eternal life, which I had never heard the Priest at my church talk about. I was thirty-seven years old, but I had never cracked open a Bible. After all, I was baptized as an infant, and I thought my bases were covered because I was a Catholic. Like most people, I considered myself to be a good person.

But, if I stood in God’s courtroom on Judgment Day and He judged me according to His Law, would I pass the “good person” test? Let’s see… Had I ever told a lie? Yes. Had I ever stolen something? Yes. Had I ever looked upon a woman with lust? Jesus said that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Another yes. I thought I was “good,” but I had to admit that I was a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart, and that was only three of the Ten Commandments! I would definitely stand guilty in God’s courtroom if I were judged by His standards.

The Bible says that sin is “transgression of the Law” (1 John 3:4), and that no person will be found innocent on Judgment Day, because none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). Furthermore, sin incurs wages: “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). I had earned the wages of Hell. But the good news was that Jesus became a man to pay my fine. He suffered and died by taking my punishment on the cross, and then He rose from the dead. I learned that my guilt could be dismissed! My death sentence could be pardoned! It was the best news I had ever heard! I could walk out of God’s courtroom a free man, because Jesus had taken the punishment for my sin.

I wanted God’s gift of eternal life. I wanted God! To have it, all I needed to do was repent (turn from my sins with godly sorrow) and trust in Jesus. I did that sincerely and found forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. I felt humbled and overwhelmed. What kind of love is this that would reach down to a nobody like me … and after all the things I’ve done? And in one life-changing moment, sitting by the side of the road in an old van, I became a new man. I had passed from death to life. I walked out of the courtroom a free man, and I took my first heavenly breath—it was sweet, and fresh, and clean.

After the Lord came into my life, I had no more desire for drugs, and was delivered from my eighteen-year drug habit. And, I couldn’t get enough of reading God’s word and telling others what the Lord had done for me. I left the rituals of the Catholic church and joined a church where I was baptized and could grow in faith. Life made sense to me for the first time, although becoming a Christian didn’t exempt me from troubles and trials. I still had them, as I do today, but God helps me get through them.

Sadly, most people think they are “good” and will automatically go to heaven when they die. You don’t have to be as bad as I was to be in need of a Savior. The Bible says that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). If you’ve broken even one of God’s commandments you’re guilty (James 2:10). A lot of people use God’s name as a cuss word. That’s called blasphemy, and it’s a serious sin, because God’s Law states that we should not misuse His name (the third Commandment). People wouldn’t use their mother’s name as a cuss word, but have no problem using God’s holy name irreverently. Would you pass the “good person” test? If not, it should concern you deeply.

But God did something for you. He sent His Son—Jesus Christ—to suffer and die for you on the cross. He paid your fine by His blood so that you could leave the courtroom with your death penalty dismissed. But you must repent of your sins and yield your life to Him (Acts 3:19). Doing good works and attending a church can never save you (Ephesians 2: 8-9). Only Jesus gives you everlasting life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).

You’ve just read my story, and my prayer is that you too, will repent & find God’s forgiveness and peace.

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