Parshall Partners

NEVER TOO LATE

         If you have ever told yourself, “I’m just too old and too set in my ways to change,” then let me tell you a story that reminds us that it is never too late for God to change us.

         Accepting Christ as our personal Savior is the most important decision anyone of us will ever make.  It is literally the difference between life and death; Heaven and Hell.  We are all sinners, with a penalty on our heads for the wages of sins.  We are, guilty, as charged.

         But Christ so loved us, what while we were still sinners, Christ took the weight of our sin to the Cross and paid the ultimate price for our sins.  He was innocent, perfect, unblemished; we are dead in our sins but he broke the chains of death and took away the sting of the grave.  Becoming a Christian means acknowledging our sins, believing that Jesus is who He said He was and confessing our wrongdoings to Him.  When we do that, life here – and life eternal is changed forever.

         When does this decision get made for most people?  According to research done by the Barna Group, nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday. One out of eight born again people (13%) made their profession of faith while 18 to 21 years old. Less than one out of every four born again Christians (23%) embraced Christ after their twenty-first birthday – less than one out of four, after the age of twenty-one.  Tell that to Ophelia White.

         Ophelia lives in Ruston, Louisiana.   Because she was raised in a church-going family, Ophelia thought she had a relationship with Christ, but recently her roommate, Joy Campbell, began to sense that Ophelia didn’t really believe that Jesus was in her life.  A series of deep spiritual conversations began between the two roommates.  Campbell prayed for her roomie every day until, just a few months ago, Ophelia made that decision that changed her forever – forever!

         Joy had shared a house with Ophelia for eight years, before discovering that her friend was not a Christian.  But, through her faithful prayers and compassionate listening, Joy was able to see her friend Ophelia joyously share her new found faith with her church family and even watched Ophelia get baptized a few weeks later.

         Ophelia’s pastor said Joy’s friendship reminds us how a close friend can be a catalyst for a lost person to become a Christian.  He also said, “I’m praying we have others in our congregation who have a similar story will have the courage to do as Mrs. White.  We see her testimony as a gift from God to our church and are grateful He allowed us to be a part of this.”

         So, even if you are set in your ways, and you think you are too old to change, ask Ophelia White.  She’ll tell you – “I want people to know it’s never too late.  Get with it!” And, she ought to know.  Ophelia received a new life in Christ at 94 years of age.

                  That’s my opinion.  I’m Janet Parshall.