Martin Janes

Martin

Janes

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Bit by bit God was working, speaking to me through songs, and verses in the Bible.

I was brought up in a Christian home and we were regulars at the village chapel. I have always trusted the Bible to be God’s book, with a true account of the history of the world, Jesus coming into the world and His miracles. I understood that we were all sinners, but how we were saved was a mystery to me. I heard Christians talking about God’s chosen people, and thought I hope I’ve been chosen by God, but if not, there’s not much I can do about it.

I kept attending the chapel, at first not wanting to upset my grandparents or parents. Then my girlfriend kept me going. After I was married with two children, the cycle restarted: encouraging the children to accept something I wasn’t convinced of myself.

Around 1980, my work took me into many different homes, including one of a young mother who was an enthusiastic Jehovah’s Witness. Even though I thought she was wrong in what she believed, I was unable to give her any reasonable answers or stand up to her teaching. This was a challenging time and I prayed to God that He would help me.

Then one day as I was approaching her door, the lines of a hymn suddenly struck me afresh:

How stands the case, my soul, with you?

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For heaven, are your credentials clear? Is Jesus blood your only plea? Is He your great forerunner there?”

I had always wondered, should I die, how I’d argue my case before God – how could I ever earn my place in heaven?  Yet here was the answer – Only Jesus could pay for my sin; it was only His blood that would make the difference.  This was the first time I’d had any idea that salvation was in Jesus alone, and not dependent on living a good life.

Bit by bit God was working, speaking to me through songs, and verses in the Bible. Words from the book of Acts came to mind: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” and “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The question of whether I was one of God’s chosen people and how I could be sure of my salvation was being addressed.

One day as I walked along, I heard a street preacher in Leighton Buzzard calling out these encouraging words: “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3 v9)

I couldn’t deny that I believed in God and Jesus, and I understood that God had shown me His plan of salvation. Whereas once I was spiritually blind, now I can see, and I’m encouraged to keep moving forward as a Christian.