No tears, tattooed or otherwise

I concluded giving my testimony in a prison yard and asked those who wanted what I had in my heart, (the peace, joy, and love of Jesus), versus what they had in that cell block, (misery), to go to one of my teammates and allow them to explain exactly how they could do as I have done and obtain it in their own lives. All of the inmates went to someone except for two; they came directly to me.

Both were Latinos and I could tell from the gang tattoos that covered their faces, necks, and arms that they belonged to MS13, a particularly violent and vicious gang that originated in El Salvador (and in this country in Los Angeles).

This gang is known for their cruelty and merciless retributions and as evidence both sported tear drop tattoos coming out of the corner of their eyes, indicating that both of them had killed someone; (one had two teardrops and the other one).

In perfect English they told me that they came directly to me because I’d been in their shoes on the street with the drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence, and they wanted to talk directly to someone who’d been where they’d been.

I asked them what they thought would happen to them if they were to die today. Both said they were pretty sure they would go to hell because of the bad things they had done in their lives, and then they smiled and nervously laughed about it.

I told them that I’d done lots of “bad things” in my life, but I was going to heaven. The Bill Glass coordinator for that cell block was standing next to me and we pulled out one of our Behind the Walls prison tracts and proceeded to go through the tract with them. We asked them to read with us and when they read a point we would ask them, “Now what does that mean to you?”

Below are the questions and their responses:

1. For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23 – They acknowledged that this meant that everybody had sinned, (not just them) and had fallen short. In other words everyone is in the same boat and in need of God.
2. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 – They both agreed that the penalty for sin is a death sentence. (This wasn’t hard for them to understand because in their gang the same penalty exists for violating their gang rules.)
3. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 – They both agreed that this meant that God loved us so much that He allowed His only Son to take our punishment, (our death sentence), in order that we might live.
4. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. John 14:6 – It took a few moments but we finally got them to understand that being good can’t get anyone into heaven; only the blood of Christ can do that and the only way to reach heaven is through the sacrifice that Jesus made with His blood on the cross.
5. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 – They both told me this meant that we must enter a guilty plea and confess to God that we are sinners. To them it was similar to pleading guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.
6. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. Rev. 3:20 – I had to help them a little with this one too in explaining that God certainly has the power to MAKE us follow Him, but He doesn’t want a bunch of robots, we must willingly choose to follow Him. He will not force us to do so. He will not enter our hearts unless asked to do so.
7. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 – They understood that this means that followers of Christ must acknowledge that He is God and was resurrected from the grave.

I asked them if they wanted to pray to receive Christ. They looked at each other and in typical tough guy attitude smilingly said, “Sure man, why not?”

I said, “Then pray this prayer along with me, Father God in heaven, thank you for your Son Jesus. I’m a sinner, I cannot save myself. I need a savior. Jesus, I believe you died for my sins. I believe you rose from the grave.

Please forgive me of my sins. I turn to you Jesus. Come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and make me the person you want me to be.

Thank you Lord Jesus! Amen.

They repeated everything I said and when we finished we discussed what must happen next. They would need to turn from their sins now and follow Christ. The leader of the two looked at me and said that he thought that might be too “hard” to do. He shook his head sadly and said, “Man I’d have to give up the women, the booze, the drugs, my homies . . . It would be too hard to do that man.”

I looked at him incredulously and said, “Too hard? Did I hear you right, “TOO HARD”?

Ah ha-ha-ha-ha . . . Are you “fricking” kidding me? Is it EASY in here? You think it’s EASY on the street? Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha Give me a break. We both know someone wants to put a shank in your neck right now; you might get some bad dope and OD; the cops are always on your case; you’re miserable and paranoid all the time just like I was. The alcohol, drugs, women, and violence don’t make your pain go away – Nothing does!

Your life isn’t easy; my life is easy. I know peace, joy, and love in my life. I’m not sitting around wondering if someone is gonna shank me, or whether or not the police are going to put me in prison. I’m not gonna get drunk tonight and crash my car and smash my body, or OD from drugs.

I’m going home to my family and friends who love me. I’m going to eat some good food tonight. And tomorrow I’m going to ride my horse through the gorgeous woods and see the beautiful blue sky, birds, and other wildlife. That ain’t hard man . . . that’s easy . . .

I think this made sense to them.

I prayed for my two amigos this morning and ask you to do likewise.

Inmates aren’t the only ones who need the blood of Christ today. Unfortunately many in our society mistakenly believe that because they haven’t ever done much of anything wrong or evil, God won’t send them to hell. This is not biblical and is a deception straight from satan and will get them a one way ticket to hell. The Bible states that ALL have sinned and the sentence for committing even a single sin is spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

I can hear you now, “Excuse me but I just don’t think a gentle and loving God would send someone who hasn’t done much wrong or evil to hell for eternity”.

I say either the Bible is truth or it is a lie. It plainly states that the ONLY way into heaven is through the blood of Christ.

Remember the flood and Noah? One family professed their faith in God and the rest of the world rejected Him and subsequently were swept away to their deaths. It was an example of what is to come, God’s separation of sin from His holy presence . . .

Have faith in and believe the Bible and live forever with Jesus Christ in heaven where there will be no tears, (tattooed or otherwise) . . . Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He doesn’t desire for anyone to perish, but He will not force you to allow Him into your heart. It’s easy to live for Christ in comparison to living for the devil . . .

Ephesians 2:8

“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

October 8, 2013 – Click here to listen