Tom Befort
I was born the 5th of 7 kids and grew up in a “religious” household. I knew the story about Jesus, but never had an assurance of going to heaven if I died. During my growing up, I excelled in many things–playing football, academics, and work.
However, when I hit high school, things changed. I started running with a new crowd and got involved in things I shouldn’t have. My life was spiraling out of control. In an effort to change and gain respect of my dad, I joined the Marines. Once again, I excelled in all I did as I was promoted and received awards as I gained the approval of my superiors and peers.
That was, until I was transferred to a place known as “The Rock,” Okinawa, Japan. It was known as a place where Marines either become drunks or become “religious.” I did both as it was not long before I found myself in the same condition I desired to leave when I joined the Marines, and I was going downhill fast as I began losing any respect that I had earned from my earlier Marine Corps days.
About 12 months into my 15 month Okinawa tour, I found myself praying and literally crying to God on my night watches because of fear of what would happen to me if I died. God answered my cries and sent my brother David 1 month prior to me coming home. Before he came, I tried to talk him out of it but he came anyway. During the week he was with me, he continued to share the love of God with me. He stated the way to have the peace I had been praying for was to trust in what Jesus had done for me: He paid the penalty for my disobedience and I just needed to receive it for myself as it says in Romans 6:23, for the payment of disobedience is hell, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
I knew the seriousness of this decision. I felt that I could not stop my disobedience and, as a result, God would strike me with a lightning bolt if I continued in it. David explained that God loved me and that He would help me in this area. Being convinced of God’s love and help, I prayed and confessed my disobedience, thanked God for His forgiveness in Christ, and asked Him to take control of my life.
After praying, I immediately had a peace with God that I had never experienced before due to the forgiveness I received for issues that I had been carrying with me for some time. I immediately stopped my coarse language and had no desire to drink and carouse, and I had an intense desire to read the Bible and talk to everyone about the decision I made.
Now, some 30 (+) yrs later, I have testimony upon testimony of God’s faithfulness in both the good and the bad times of life. This has done nothing but to convince me further of the security of the eternal life I have in Christ because I John 5:11, 12 says: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. Amen.
