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The Testimony of a Twentieth Century Ben Franklin
A man whom I believe that our ministry has been a help to, Mr. Ben Franklin, wrote the following tract. He was born and raised in Chicago. When I asked Ben how many times he had been in jail, he told me it was more times than he could remember! On his way to prison for the second time, he called it "a state paid vacation." From 1975 through 1985 Ben was in and out of Cook County Jail several times, and also did time in Joliet, Stateville and Centralia Correctional Centers. Early in 1985, and on his way to prison for the third time, Ben realized that he needed a Saviour, and trusted Jesus Christ to meet that need.
Here is Brother Ben's Testimony:
Proverbs 1:10-19
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
My life before Christ is summarized in these verses. I didn't heed their warnings. I joined a gang at the age of thirteen and continued my association with them for fifteen years. We started out as a brotherhood to help protect one another from rival gangs, but we soon turned to taking advantage of the innocent.
As a group, we stole cars, committed armed robbery and sold drugs, and we justified this behavior with phrases like, "It's us against the world." We were even foolish enough to think that this was the life to live and it was our destiny.
In prison I saw another phase of gang life. There we banded together for various reasons like extortion, drug sales, intimidation of officers and a false sense of self-respect.
This system seemed to work for the stronger gang members, but the weaker ones were taken advantage of, extorted and even raped. Then I saw the stronger gang members get knifed, beaten and some even killed in senseless power struggles for control of a group of men on their way to Hell.
After fifteen years, I finally decided to listen to that voice that had been speaking to me all my life, telling me that I was living wrong. I finally said "yes" to doing things God's way. It took God's grace and strength to live a life pleasing to Him right there in the same institution where I once was a gang-banger, constantly causing trouble.
Making this type of change in my life was not easy. I enrolled in a Bible correspondence course to learn God's Word. I went to the chapel whenever possible and I prayed.
Then I took a very necessary step if I was going to live a godly life in prison; I turned away from my wicked ways and made my stand with other children of God.
After this important decision, I began to serve God with the same zeal and enthusiasm that I once put into being a sinner.
I know from first hand experience that God can save men and women behind bars and help them live a saved life and send them back to society changed men and women born again in Christ Jesus.
My prayer for everyone who reads this tract is that God will no longer let you be blinded by sin, that He will lead you into the truth about His Son Jesus Christ, that you will be convicted because you believe not in Him, and that God will open your eyes to understand these Scriptures:
STEPS TO SALVATION
1. CONFESS YOUR SINS (With a willingness to forsake them) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. --Proverbs 28:13
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. --Isaiah 55:6-7
2. BELIEVE IN JESUS (By confessing His LORDSHIP AND RESURRECTION) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. --Romans 10:9
3. RECEIVE THE GIFT OF GOD (ASK JESUS INTO YOUR HEART) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. --John 1:12
--Ben Franklin, a servant of Christ
Perhaps, now that you have read Ben's testimony, you realize that you too are in need of a Saviour. Hebrews 2:3 asks us: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...?
Jesus is our only hope of forgiveness of sins and an eternal home in heaven.
For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus, God the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. --2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. --John 14:6
For whosoever (anyone, including you) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. --Romans 10:13
Would you like to be saved? Then please pray this prayer from your heart:
"Dear Lord, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins. Right now I ask that Jesus come into my heart and save me. Amen."
If you "meant business" with God when you prayed that simple prayer, you are now saved, and as saved as you ever will be.
Oh, can it be upon a tree
The Saviour died for me?
My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled,
To think He died for me!
--John Newton
Repent ye, and believe the gospel. --Mark 1:15
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God... --1 John 3:1
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. --2 Corinthians 5:17
EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD:
Be Baptized by Immersion -- Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:4
Join a Bible Believing, Bible Teaching Church -- Psalm 122:1; Hebrews 10:25
Study the King James Bible -- 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2
Pray with Confidence -- Matthew 7:7-8; 1 John 5:14-15
Win Others to the Saviour -- Mark 1:17; Acts 5:42
Put Jesus First in Your Life -- Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2