“From Natural Life to Eternal Life”

LTRP Note: Gene Anderson is a Lighthouse Trails reader who has been incarcerated for nearly 40 years. This is part of his story.

By Gene Anderson – His Testimony
Copyright 2011 Precious Testimonies
(Used with permission.)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I was sent to prison for “natural life” for killing a man. The man was killed because he was a “hindrance” to me obtaining something I was obsessed with: getting my own island and military force.

The crime was easy to commit. But the day after, while looking at myself in the mirror, my conscience was tearing me up. “What have you done?” I kept thinking. But instead of changing for the better, I hardened my heart and the remorse soon left. A year and a half later, thinking I had got away, I was arrested. While sitting in a county jail holding cell I kept thinking, “Is this how my empire is going to end?” I also tried to convince myself that this was just a nightmare and that I would soon be waking up. But this was real.

Once in my cell I did something that I had never done before – I picked up a Bible and began to read it. I started at Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” As I continued through the rest of the Chapter, I thought that those were the most awesome words that I had ever read. I had no serious “religious” background whatsoever. But as the Bible says, “The word of God is quick and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). And it began to work in me.

After about a month, my need for Salvation was fully realized. I needed forgiveness, and I knew that only Jesus Christ could provide it. I knelt beside my bunk and asked the Lord to forgive me for all of my sins – and He did!

Even though I was feeling miserable because of all the evils I had done, I knew that I was given a new life and that I was not the same wicked man that I used to be. I was a “new man” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The evidence for this miraculous change is beyond explanation. My hatred for those who “betrayed” me was gone. God had given me a value for human life.

I was sent to the state penitentiary on Dec. 16th, 1987. I know it is possible that I may spend the rest of my life in prison; I’m reaping what I’ve sown. Physical freedom with Christ would be nice; but whether I get out or not is up to God. If it’s His will that I spend the rest of my earthly life serving Him in prison, so be it. I know that He put me on this Earth for a reason, and He wants me doing His will no matter where I’m at. He knows what He is doing and makes no mistakes.

Even though in prison, I do not say that I had a better life when I was “free” than the one I do now. Because out there I never had Christ. I never had peace. I was a tormented individual.

What most people don’t realize or believe is just how simple salvation is. They cannot accept the fact that such a wonderful thing can be obtained completely outside of their own efforts and good works. But that is why it’s called a “gift”—

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

He can do the same for you. No one is too bad that God cannot forgive him. Jesus paid the price for all sins. But you have to ask.

 The courts tell me that I am supposed to die in prison. Even if I do, what is this life compared to eternity?

“For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? “(Matthew 16:26)

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The above is from a tract sent to us that was put together by Crossroads Ministry. The copyright belongs to Precious Testimonies ministry; we are posting this with their permission. Both ministries have outreach to prisoners.

LTRP Note: If anyone wants to write to Gene, you may send a letter to him via Lighthouse Trails. Put his name on the envelope, and write c/o Lighthouse Trails Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Roseburg, Oregon 97470.