There's Joy In the Camp

Well, the day for which Leigh and I have been praying (for over 10 years now) seems to have finally occurred! After years of impressing the gospel to her heart and mind, Sarah has professed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Our first reaction was cautious optimism. Though the circumstances surrounding the breakthrough are too detailed and personal to discuss here, everything "looked right" to me in the biblical sense. There was confession and brokenness over sin as she was alone in her room (Abby informed Leigh that Sarah was crying). In fact, Leigh was next door for a quick visit with a neighbor when all of this occurred. But it happened over an open Bible, where Sarah read, wept over her sin, and was gloriously birthed into the Kingdom of God.
We have been very cautious about offering any sort of pressure on her to repent and believe. She's heard (and hopefully seen) the gospel consistently, but she has never been cajoled or coached. After 15 years of ministry, we have seen too many hasty "conversions" of children (my own conversion at 7 was ill-begotten I think). In fact, we have dissuaded Sarah before as she has declared she was saved, reminding her that genuine salvation is accompanied by "fruits worthy of repentance." There was no change before. There is definitely a newness to her life now. She is voraciously reading her Bible (and mine--her's has too many kid words, she says). She remarked that today she has felt lighter--her heart was not heavy anymore. She smiles incessantly. She obeys the first time. And, get this--she is cleaning her room without being told! Can anyone doubt the girl has been saved?
Of course, I'm a pastor, so you know I wonder. After many times being disappointed in discipling new "believers" (and seeing them drift back into sin, and even being hardened to the gospel), we have some pause. Nothing is worse than thinking you have something you really don't, except finding that out when it is too late. Hopefully, we have faithfully presented that message to this little one. But as it stands now, we rejoice! Ultimately, our faith is not in Sarah's "decision" anyway, but in the Lord's good pleasure to save His elect ones--and to keep them. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). And so we celebrate, and hope you will too--particulary you family and friends who have imparted gospel influence to Sarah, and prayed for her salvation. We are grateful for all you have done. Now may the ultimate glory and honor go to the pardoning God of heaven and earth . . . to His Son who has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Amen.