The Night That Changed My Life

My name is Phillip.

For many years I struggled with drugs and alcohol. I have been to jail several times and have been to two rehab centers. Yet I called myself a Christian because I attended Alaska Christian College and had heard about God.

Actions speak louder than words, however, and I wasnt reflecting the Christian life. I had the misconception that God loves us so much that, after a night of drinking and drugs, I could always ask God to forgive me in the morning and that would be that.

On November 21, 2012 my life was changed forever. I remember the day started out like any other. It was getting late when the phone rang. It was my sister. She had been drinking and needed a place to stay. I got her back to the house, but had to leave. When I returned, she was lying down outside as if sleeping.

I then realized her hands and lips had turned purple. I immediately checked for signs of breathing and a pulse. There were none. I started performing CPR on her and called 9-1-1. Emergency personnel arrived and tried to revive her for about a half hour before transporting her to the hospital. I rode with them and did the only thing I could do – pray.

When we arrived at the emergency room, I noticed a Bible on the table. I opened it up and Romans Chapter 6 caught my attention. When I got to verse 16, it read,

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?“

I realized I was living a lie. Seeing my sister lying in an emergency room surrounded by medical personnel made me realize not everyone gets a chance in the morning to ask God to forgive them. My sister didn’t. As the stark reality of her death hit me, I broke down, knowing where my life was headed.

I asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of my life that night. I asked Him to take away the desire to drink and do drugs. As I asked Him this, I could actually feel those sinful desires flee.

John 8:32 says,

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Thats exactly what happened to me that night.

God found me at the lowest time of my life and gave me hope. He started a good work in me that night. And since I know He did, I can only look to the future in hope that He will continue that good work as the Bible says in this passage:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

Phillip, Alaska