Personal Testimony

Craig Akins

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at the age of three. Although I don’t remember anything before my salvation, I do remember the time that I was saved. I was in my living room and my mother was beside me, my father was sitting in his chair and my sister was sitting on the couch. I don’t remember anything that was said, however, I do remember realizing and feeling several things.

The first thing that I realized was that I was a sinner. I knew that I had done bad things and that God was going to punish me for my sins. I remember sensing and understanding, as much as a three year old could, my sinfulness and God’s holiness. I remember feeling a combination of dread and awe. Although I didn’t understand the theology behind God, I knew that He was real. Although at that time, I didn’t understand all there was to know about sin and eternal punishment; I did know that I was a sinner separated from God and that I was going to be punished for my sins.

The next thing that I realized was that Jesus had come and died for my sins. To some extent I realized that God had sent His Son Jesus to this earth to take the punishment for my sins. I knew that the only way to heaven was to trust Him as my Savior. Throughout this whole experience I was neither trusting because my parents told me to, nor was I trusting that I needed to say some special words. Instead, I remember sensing that the Holy Spirit was in some way telling me that these things were true and I responded in child-like faith.

Since that time I have sensed His presence with me and His working in me. Although in my teenage years especially, I did fall away into sin, the Lord was always there letting me know that I was doing wrong. Throughout the years, I have always believed that faith in Him is the only way to Heaven. I have a desire to serve Him and to live in accordance with His will. There have been many times that I have felt the power of His Spirit working within me.

There have been times when I have wondered if I am really saved. At times like that I rest on the promises of scripture. I try to always remember that my salvation is based on God’s faithfulness and not mine. One verse that I rely on for my salvation is John 3:16 which reads “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Another verse that assures me of my salvation is Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I am thankful that nothing can ever separate me from the love of God.

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