Now I am 100% sure, without a doubt, on my way to Heaven.Īs I stated in my salvation testimony, I had the great privilege of growing up in a strong Christian home. I went forward to the altar and prayed and received Christ as my personal Savior. On Wednesday evening of that week I finally set aside my pride and worry of what everyone else would think. Dave McCracken was preaching on being 100% sure that you would be in heaven at the Marriage Supper but I wasn’t 100% sure. In August of 1997 I was at youth camp, and Bro. I know the Lord used that situation to speak to me once again, but it was almost a year and a half later before I finally decided I couldn’t live in misery anymore. When I was almost 17, my Grandpa passed away. I let my pride get in the way of admitting that it didn’t matter who I was or what good I was doing, I was still lost. I was a bus captain, sang in the church and teen choirs and always thought of myself as a pretty good kid. But the more I tried to remember the larger the doubts grew.Īs a teenager, I always tried to pacify it with being involved in different ministries in the church. I mainly went off of what my older sister told me I had prayed and thought that was enough. As a young child, about 5 or 6, I made a profession of faith and remember being baptized, but the older I grew there wasn’t a whole lot I could recall. I had the privilege of being raised in a pastor’s home. Not because I wanted to please men but because I finally realized I was a sinner and I needed forgiveness from a great Savior.

That night by the grace of God I got saved. When I stepped off the bus back on campus I found my roommate who was a senior and talked with him. I sat there miserable knowing things were not well in my soul. The people riding with me kept singing “It Is Well With My Soul”. After the service on November 3rd, 2000 I had to ride the college bus back to campus from the church. During a revival meeting at Southwest Baptist Church in OKC, OK, God turned up the pressure on me, but I refused to walk the aisle.

I knew I was lost but I didn’t want anyone else to know it. Just a couple of months into my freshmen year I was miserable. I realized I was making professions of faith to please people and not because I believed I was a sinner before a holy God. I had made professions of faith, but in doing so I was always trying to get out of trouble with my parents. While at Bible College I took a personal evangelism class that really shook me up. My Father asked me to attend one year of Bible College and I agreed to do so. After I graduated from high school I had my plans for my future but they did not include serving God.

I was raised in a very strong Christian home, yet I struggled with my salvation for many years.

Dave erickson bellingham wa pastor