July 8, 2009 will be remembered and cherished in my family for decades. It was on this night that my oldest daughter Emily accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. This was the day she was as the scriptures teach, born again. For my wife and I it was the answer to a prayer eight years in the making.
Only 20 when I learned I would be a father I immediately began praying for the life that was growing inside April. Working night shift meant I was gone most every night. Each time I was dressed and ready for work I would go to April and the two of us would pray. Before we knew she was a girl, before we knew her name was Emily, we prayed that our child would be born healthy and come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We have struggled with this numerous times before. When a person at our church would be saved she would immediately begin asking questions. Always wanting to be saved, but not knowing why she needed to be saved or what she needed to be saved from. Last night I heard through sobs her quiet voice say, "I know that if I died right now I would go to Hell! I'm a sinner and I need to be saved!" After talking to and praying with Emily she received Jesus as her Lord and Savior!
Last night as I bowed my head to pray; for the first time since I learned of her life; I did not have to pray for Emily's salvation. You can only understand this feeling once you experience it for yourself. All that I can tell you about it is that you know whatever else happens, life is good. When you know your child is going to heaven for all eternity, nothing else really seems to matter.
God is not good because He saved my daughter. In reality God did not have to save anyone. He is not God because He is good. He is good because He is God. I pray now that Emily will have a love for God. A love for His word. As well as a love for His house. Of course I know all these things are only possible because of Him. After all, she love Him because He first loved her.
