Do you believe in God?
In the wake of the recent Columbine High School shootings Cassie
Bernall's story has been an encouragement to many. The following is
written as Cassie might have told it.
My name is Cassie Bernall. I was in the Columbine High School library,
April 20, 1999, when two of my classmates held me and my friends hostage
with their bullets, bombs, and terror. One of the gunmen thrust a gun
into my face and asked, "Do you believe in God?"
Before I tell you how I answered, please know that only two years before
I had been dabbling with black magic.
My parents were tipped off when they discovered some letters one of my
friends had written to me. That's when they stepped in with tough love.
They grounded me from my old friends, made me change schools, and
insisted I go to church and youth group. Personally, I think they saved
my life.
At my youth group, I began to hear about God's love and forgiveness
through His Son, Jesus Christ. I discovered that despite the terrible
things I'd done or considered doing, Jesus had died for me. I decided I
wanted to give my life to Him. Later I wrote this note:
Now I have given up on everything else--I found it to be the only way to
know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought Him to life
again, and to find out what it really means to suffer and to die with
Him. So, whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness
of life of those who are alive from the dead."--Cassie Bernall
It was in the Columbine library that I faced my moment of truth. With
the gun pointed at my face, I'd been asked to choose between my old life
and my new life in Christ with the question, "Do you believe in God?" I
took a deep breath, then answered with a clear voice, "YES!"
"Why?" the gunman asked. Before I could answer, he pulled the trigger,
ending my life on earth. How glad I am I stood up for God with my YES!
My death is in fact my answer to the gunman's final question, "Why?" For
today I am with God. Nothing can take that away from me!
Would you like to be able to say YES to Jesus, just as I did? Would you
like to be able to say YES to knowing God has forgiven your sins; YES to
knowing that you can someday, like me, be with Him for eternity?
To say YES, first, recognize that you are a sinner. The Bible says, "For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Who will bridge the distance between you and God? Jesus said, "I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me" (John 14:6).
The good news is that Romans 10:9-11 says, "That if you confess with
your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you
believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess
and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will
never be put to shame.'"
Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart (Revelation 3:20). Now it is
time to take a stand, to "no longer live for yourself, but for Christ"
(2 Corinthians 5:15).
Will you say YES and ask Him into your heart?
Test your heart. Can you say YES to these five questions?
Are you a sinner?
Do you want forgiveness of sins?
Do you believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and rose again?
Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ?
Are you ready to invite Jesus Christ into your life and into your heart?
If you can say YES to these five question, then simply say to Jesus: "I
am a sinner, I want forgiveness for my sins. I believe Jesus died and
rose again. I want to surrender my life to Christ. Jesus, please come
into my heart. Amen."
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