Lives are ChangedThrough Faith!

Hello, friend. My name is Nathan Stahlman. I’m not anything spectacular, but what happened to me at age 19 is the most spectacular thing anyone can experience. I want to share that experience with you. It may change your life. I know it changed mine. It was the day I met with God, and for the first time in my life, the reality of God’s existence and His love was made unshakably real.

As a five-year-old church kid, I realized I was a sinner, and I knew God would one day bring judgment on all sinners because He is holy, and He will not allow evil people into heaven. One day, all sinners will be cast into the lake of fire forever.

“and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. … And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12b,15

I knew that I deserved this judgment, but I also knew that Jesus, God’s Son, had died on a cross. I knew that God the Father punished Jesus for our sins, even though He was perfect. From a young age, I knew that Jesus was buried and raised Himself from the dead. If I believed this good news, I knew He would grant me eternal life. At five years old, I recognized this truth and believed.

As years passed, I struggled with the fear of death and thoughts of what would happen to my soul if I died. I was scared and hopeless. How could I be sure that Jesus saved me? He seemed so far away and distant.

I would lie awake in bed, so afraid that I was going to die in my sleep. I could just imagine myself falling in that bottomless lake of fire, being eaten by worms forever and ever. I would be without my parents and without hope. The book of Mark tells us that Hell is full of worms that never die and fire that will never be quenched. It is a horrifying place.

In my heart, I knew God was not a myth. We all know this. Deep down, we know that we have a creator, and we know that there is life after death. We also know that our wickedness separates us from God. It is something that haunts us.

I would often think back on the promise of eternal life that Jesus offered. The one I believed when I was five, and I would think, “I did that.” So I tried to convince myself I was safe and would roll over and try to sleep.

In my teenage years, I would have the same nightmares, fears, and doubts. Did I do it right? Did I pray the right prayer? I’m not really sure. I’m kind and I love my family, that must mean I’m a Christian. You know, “the thing” must have worked.

I had no peace. I would fill every free second with video games so I didn’t have to be alone with my thoughts. I did believe in God. I did believe that the Bible is true, but I had no assurance that I was really safe from eternal damnation.

I was 19 when I finally had enough. I just talked to God. It was not a formal prayer, just a request, like I was talking with Jesus in the same room.

“God, I know you are real. I know about eternal life. I’ve read the whole Bible many times… but I have no peace. I have no assurance. If you're real, help me know you. I can’t keep going to church and calling myself a Christian while living with these doubts. Please help me.”

I sat down to read my Bible, starting in Matthew. I read all 28 chapters. Nothing happened. There was no change. There was no peace. At this point, I began to be afraid. I guess I assumed that God would open the sky or something after a couple chapters.

I kept reading. I read most of the Gospel of Mark, and I came across these words Jesus said while on the cross. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Wait a second. God forsook Jesus? Jesus felt alone? Jesus felt forsaken and rejected, covered with guilt and shame from sin? Then I realized… it was my sin. He had to do that, or I would have no hope of having my sins paid for. I read and reread Mark chapter 15. Tears filled my eyes as I began to understand Jesus and all that He went through, just for me.

Then I understood what I had been missing for years. My assurance, my trust, has nothing to do with me. IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!

Jesus loves me. Jesus paid for my sins. Jesus forgave me. And when I was five years old, and I believed the good news, He saved me! It was not because I deserved it, because I prayed a prayer, or because my parents were Christians.

I was not saved because I “did the right thing” or because I earned a right to go to heaven. I was saved because I realized there is nothing I can do to be saved, and I rested in the fact that Jesus had taken care of everything. I simply let go and believed. No prayer, no church attendance, no ritual... Just faith. Jesus has it all covered.

I was filled with peace from God, and Jesus became so real to me that day. When I read my Bible, the Holy Spirit helps me understand. When I pray, I know I am talking to God and that He hears me. The biggest change… I have no fear of death.

“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” - Hebrews 2:14b-15

I was in bondage through fear of death and Hell. I am now free! It is not because of church, not because I prayed, and not because I got baptized. It is only because Jesus paid the price so that I could go free and escape judgment! I believe! He now gives me joy, hope, and peace that is unimaginable.

“nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” - 2 Timothy 1:12b

I know whom I have believed. He is Jesus! I know Him. I trust Him. This is how I know that I will be safe on judgment day.

Friend, this good news is not just for me. If you are afraid to die, or if you have no peace, then Jesus is the answer. If you do not know where your soul will go when you die, believe in the good news of Jesus. If you are trusting in anything but Jesus alone, you are still destined for judgment. You will have no true peace, no hope of heaven, and no relationship with God.

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” - John 20:31

I know whom I have believed in. Salvation is in a person. That person is Jesus. Who are you trusting?

To learn more about Jesus and grow in your faith, reach out to us!