Anchored Through the Storm

The True-Life Story of Ben Webster

“Stormy” would be a good way to describe my teenage years. That may be true with many teens, but it was certainly true in my life. My parents were going through very difficult days. Some of my friends were influencing me in a wrong direction. Then, to worsen matters, I was making some of my own wrong choices: smoking, drinking, and occasional drug use. My life, at this point, was filled with anger and bitterness, and my heart was far from the Lord. Yet, there was one fact that anchored my life and allowed me to weather these raging storms. It was the result of a simple but crucial choice I had made a few years earlier…

I was blessed to have grown up in a loving Christian home. We were faithful church attenders from as early as I can recall. We sang the songs, carried our Bibles, and were involved in nearly everything a church-going family could be. I distinctly remember hearing others often say to my parents, “Your kids are so good!” I felt like, everywhere we went, we were constantly being described as “good.” Though I came to understand what was meant by these well-meaning comments, I still, at a young age, understood there was something inside of me that was far from “good.”

At the age of six, I heard the Gospel during a children’s church service. I heard that being “good” was not enough; I was still a sinner. The Bible says in Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no, not one.” “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

By man’s standard, I was “good,” but in God’s eyes, I was guilty. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). I realized not only was I a sinner, but there was a penalty for my sin. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). Because of my sin, I deserved to die. Everyone dies physically, but we also deserve to be separated from God for eternity in a placed called Hell. “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). I knew I was headed to Hell because of my sin and was already condemned before a Holy God.

The greatest trust I heard that day was that “God commendeth (showed) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God loved me enough to allow His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place. Because He died for my sin and rose again, I could now have the gift of eternal life. “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). I knew, for the first time, that Jesus died for me, for my sin.

Though His gift is freely offered, it is only helpful when it is received. I suddenly realized that if I would simply receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, He would save me from the penalty of my sin. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:12). Since I could not earn it, I could only receive it. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). That day I bowed my head, repented of my sin, and asked Christ to be my personal Savior. Instantly, He gave me the gift of eternal life and came to live within me.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13). I know can say, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is my Savior and Heaven is my eternal home. Is it because I was or am a “good” person? NO, but because I repented of my sin and believed in my heart that Jesus died and rose again. What a life changing event! Not only did it change my life and eternity, but it provided an anchor for the storms to come!

I was spiritually born into God’s family on that day, just like I had earlier been born into my parents’ family. No choice I would make, from then on, would change that I belonged to Him! Though at times my actions have hurt my fellowship with God and created troublesome storms, God has faithfully drawn me back to Himself. During my teenage tempest, I was at a youth meeting when I surrendered my life to the Lord. He eventually called me and placed me into the Gospel ministry. He has given me a wonderful wife and five beautiful children. Storms still rage at times, but one thing remains: The fact that I have been anchored in Christ. Now, as the pastor of the Newport News Baptist Church, I long to point the people of our community to the only Anchor who can protect them from the storm.

Are you certain Heaven is your eternal home? If you’re trusting in your own “goodness,” you will never make it. No amount of good works will ever earn you a place in Heaven. You must repent and by faith claim Christ alone as your Savior. Simply believe Jesus died and rose again; receive Him by faith, and He will save you! “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). 

Why not bow your heart this moment and call upon Christ? You could pray something like this: “Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner, and any goodness I have in not enough to wash away my sin. I believe you died and rose again to save me. Right now, I trust you alone to cleanse me, forgive me, and give me a home in heaven. Please come into my heart and save me. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.”

If you called upon the name of the Lord, He just saved you! Jesus said, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). What an exciting day! Tell someone about today, the day you passed from death to life; the day you stopped trusting your own “goodness” and trusted only in Jesus; the day God changed your eternity! So that we may rejoice with you, please contact us and let us know of your decision.

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Evangelist Dwight Smith
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Shelby, NC 28152