While I was a police chaplain, I would ride during the night once a week with 1 an officer. Over the months, one officer shared his story of burnout, family breakup, addiction, and little hope. In the middle of one night we stopped at a restaurant for a break. I remember saying, “Joe, for months now you’ve told me of the diminishing hope in your life. Isn’t it time you give Jesus a chance?” He looked into my eyes and said, “Yep.” There in that restaurant, he prayed and asked Jesus to come into his life. To this day, Joe walks with God, is a man of prayer, and remains a trustworthy friend.
You may know what it is like to feel as if your life is hopeless. The jailer in Acts 16 was ready to take his life. But God’s ambassadors, Paul and Silas, said, “Don’t harm yourself!” Overwhelmed, the jailer’s heart was ready for Jesus. The message was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
That’s it? Believe and you will be saved? Yes! It’s not complicated. Are you looking for hope? Look no further than to Jesus.
Author: An Anchor writer for 32 years, Dick Johnson has been serving in ministry since 1964 in places from the Midwest to Okinawa. He has been a youth pastor, organist, Sunday school teacher, radio programmer for the Far East Broadcasting Company, senior pastor, and hospital and law enforcement chaplain. It’s hard to keep him down, even now in “semi-retirement” where he and his wife Linda are active supporting law enforcement personnel and serving in their church in the Santa Cruz, CA area. His prayer is that he can show others the simple, clear-cut message of Jesus’ love.