David Thompson sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, staring at the empty whiskey bottle on the table. He had once been a man full of dreams—a loving husband, a proud father, and a successful entrepreneur. But life had taken a cruel turn. A series of bad business deals left him drowning in debt, and in his frustration, he turned to alcohol. The more he drank, the more he lost control. Eventually, his wife, Emily, took their daughter and left. His friends deserted him. His house was repossessed.
One night, as he wandered aimlessly through the cold streets, he heard distant singing. It was a song his mother used to sing when he was a child:
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”
He followed the sound and found himself standing outside a small church. Something inside him told him to step in. He hesitated, ashamed of his appearance—unshaven, unkempt, and reeking of alcohol. But before he could turn away, a kind old man at the door smiled and said, “Come in, son. Jesus is waiting for you.”
David stepped inside and took a seat at the back. The preacher opened his Bible and began reading:
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)
David felt a lump in his throat. Could God really forgive him after all he had done? He had cursed God. He had abandoned his family. He had wasted his life.
As the service continued, the preacher told the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)—a young man who had squandered his inheritance in reckless living. When the son realized his mistake, he decided to return home, expecting only rejection. But instead, his father ran to him, embraced him, and welcomed him home.
David couldn’t hold back his tears. The weight of his past crushed him. When the preacher invited anyone who wanted to give their life to Christ to come forward, David hesitated. “What if I’m too far gone?” he thought. But then he heard another verse:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
At that moment, he knew—Jesus hadn’t given up on him. With trembling legs, he walked to the front of the church, fell to his knees, and whispered, “Lord, save me.”
The preacher knelt beside him and prayed with him. “Jesus loves you, David. He has been waiting for you.”
That night, David felt something he hadn’t felt in years—peace. A peace that no alcohol, money, or success had ever given him.
A Life Restored
From that day on, David’s life changed. It wasn’t easy—breaking free from addiction took time, but God gave him the strength to endure. He found a job, reconnected with his daughter, and after months of prayer and effort, Emily agreed to meet him. Though hesitant at first, she saw the change in him. Slowly, their relationship was restored.
One Sunday morning, David stood at the front of the church, sharing his testimony. Tears filled his eyes as he said, “I was lost, but Jesus found me. I was broken, but He restored me. He can do the same for you.”
He looked at the congregation and quoted the verse that had saved him:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
David was no longer the man who had given up on life. He was a living testimony that Jesus saves
