Two famous men who got saved

 

Salvation is having faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that it’s a gift from God, made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul wrote to some Ephesian Christians stating that “…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Faith in Jesus means trusting in Him as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. Such faith brings forgiveness, a new identity, eternal life and transformation. Christians then begin to reflect the characteristics of Jesus including love, humility, obedience, compassion, and perseverance.

One powerful story that illustrates this truth comes from Nicky Cruz, a notorious gang leader turned evangelist, whose story impacted Britain deeply through the ministry of David Wilkerson and the eventual film and book The Cross and the Switchblade. 

But perhaps the most relevant and influential British story is that of C.S. Lewis, the Oxford academic whose faith journey transformed lives worldwide. Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C.S. Lewis, was a professor at Oxford University and an avowed atheist for many years. Born in Belfast in 1898, Lewis was a brilliant scholar with a love for literature and mythology. His experience in the trenches during World War I left him further disillusioned with religion. Yet, through friendships with Christian colleagues like J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis began to seriously reconsider the claims of Christianity.

In 1931, after a long intellectual and spiritual struggle, Lewis surrendered his life to Christ. He described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” But this step of faith radically altered the course of his life.

Lewis didn’t simply believe in Jesus—he allowed that faith to reshape his values, purpose, and actions. He became one of the most prolific Christian writers of the 20th century, authoring Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia. His writings have reached millions, presenting the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel,  in a compelling, logical, and imaginative way.

What marked Lewis’s life after conversion was not just intellect but humility and love. He gave generously, responded to personal letters from readers, and bore personal suffering—such as the loss of his wife—with quiet faith. His salvation didn’t make him perfect, but it made him new.

Faith in Jesus Christ brings about real change. Notable characteristics evident in Lewis’s life, and in any truly saved life, include a recognition of personal sin and dependence on God. That’s humility. It also includes a growing love for God and others as well as a desire to follow God’s Word, even when facing difficult situations. 

Perseverance is also involved which is a steady faith that endures trials and suffering and is a life that points others to Christ, whether through words or actions.

Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not merely a religious decision; it is a life-changing encounter with the living God. C.S. Lewis’s journey from scepticism to vibrant faith reminds us that salvation is available to all, regardless of background or intellect. It’s not about joining a religion, but about entering a relationship with Jesus, who said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Faith saves, but true faith also transforms. As Lewis’s life shows, salvation through Jesus Christ creates a legacy that can echo across generations. What about your relationship to Jesus? Do you have a faith and daily seek to live life God’s way with God?

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DAILY MESSAGES WITH MEANING (01/10/25)

Written by NIGEL BINDING 

The interesting story of Edward Fogarty

All photos courtesy of Unsplash 

Edward Fogarty was very active in preaching and Sunday School work in Belfast but in 1918 a business trip to the North of England was to change his life forever. He saw the great spiritual need of Co Durham and Northumberland and gave up his employment to take the message of the Gospel, the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, to areas rarely visited by any preacher who was prepared to go there.

He would preach in the open air and in his wooden tent. The wooden tent was a canvas tent with wooden sides, Edward himself having a room inside, which he used as his living quarters. He had little to support him for he was pioneering in areas of mining and farming that saw men taking home low wages. He moved amongst the poor with many only having the bare necessities of life. Nobody was too poor, too ill or too disagreeable for Edward to challenge them with his message. What, however, was the message that he preached unashamedly, whatever the cost to him.

In his early years Edward heard preached, at an open air meeting, that the Bible says that all have sinned before God. Furthermore as sinners men face awful consequences but God had provided a unique way to save men and women from the penalty of their sin forever and give them the free gift of eternal life. 

One Event - Two reactions

 

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One Event - Two reactions

 

I have no doubt that we are all concerned about the events of the past week. What will be the outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? How can one man act without due regard for the opinion of the Ukrainian people? But, if you are a Russian citizen you may well have a completely different reaction to these events. One event can often produce two reactions.

In April 2018, on the anniversary of the recommencement of the State of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported that ‘While Israeli Jews mark Independence Day with fireworks and barbecues, the flags that sprout everywhere in Jewish areas will be absent from Arab towns, and the thoughts of many there will turn to what they term the “Nakba” (catastrophe) that they associate with Israel’s birth. 

The same date and occasion produced two different reactions from two diverse groups of people - gladness or grief, delight or dread, pleasure, or pain.

Bridging the Gap

One aspect of history that always captures my interest is the story of the Titanic. If there was ever an enduring picture of a disastrous end, it is the story of the Titanic. The Titanic had a great start. It was the greatest ship ever built and had all the latest security features. It was said of the Titanic that "God could not sink her!"  The whole world knew about this man-made wonder, and still do today, and yet she sailed for only 5 days. However, the Titanic was doomed as it left for New York. This is because normal shipping practices were disregarded and this eventually led to tragedy. All the warnings and words of wisdom were ignored.  Captain Edward John Smith, remembered for his stoicism and fortitude in the face of adversity, sadly is remembered more for his failure to reach the destination of New York"

One of the fads of 1970s America was the motorcycle jump. This trend reached its high (and low) point on September 8, 1974. Thousands of spectators gathered around the Snake River Canyon in Idaho to see if Evel Knievel could jump across the chasm in a specially designed “sky cycle.” In the end, however, it was unsuccessful. Knievel made it only part of the way across the gulf before his parachute deployed and he dropped to the canyon floor below. Some spectators asked, “How far across the canyon did he get?” But that wasn’t the point. He didn’t make it all the way across, so he fell short of his goal.