Nicholas Linn’s Spiritual Birthday

Today is Nicholas Linn’s Spiritual Birthday. Nine years ago on this day, he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This happened while we were living in Louisville and Billy Graham was in town for the Louisville Crusade in 2001. Our church had a role in providing transportation to the crusade as it was practically in our backyard. Nicholas had been attending the “Kidz Gig” activities going on at the stadium earlier in the day before Billy Graham preached. God seemed to use the activities of these days–coupled with his hearing the Gospel every week from his dad–to draw Nicholas to His side. What follows are the notes I made on this day nine years ago…

Nicholas’s Spiritual Birthday
Monday, June 25, 2001

At 11:30 PM this evening, I went in to pray for Matthew and Nicholas. While I was talking with Nicholas, he began asking questions about death. He had been asking questions like this a lot recently. I told him everyone would die at some point, but that our souls would live on. People who believe in Jesus and live for Him will go to heaven. People who do not believe in Jesus will go to hell. Nicholas said, “I believe in Jesus!” Of course, Nicholas had been saying for some time that he believed in Jesus and we have been encouraging him about this.

But on this night, Nicholas seemed particularly intent on wanting to be sure he was going to heaven. He wanted to know what happened to people’s bodies when they died. He seemed disappointed that his body would not go into heaven. I told him he would get a new one. He said, “Oh good! Oh good!”

After telling him about asking Jesus into his heart, he asked, “Do I have a hole in my heart?” I told him, “Sort of.” I explained again about asking Jesus into his heart and living for Him, following Him.

I encouraged him to listen during the invitation time at church, but presently he seemed to understand his need to be saved. I asked him simply, “Nicholas, would you like to pray and ask Jesus into your heart?” He replied that he would. I told him to come down out of his bed and we would pray. At about 11:45 PM, I led him to pray the “sinner’s prayer,” having him repeat after me. When we both said, “Amen,” Nicholas looked at me and asked, “Did it work?” I told him that it did. He seemed relieved. I congratulated him and told him I was proud of him. I kissed him and told him good night.

After telling Michele what happened, she went in to talk to him. Matthew said, “Nicholas got saved.” Nicholas had a sweet smile on his face and said, “Yeah.” She kissed him and said, “Tell me about it.” Nicholas said, “I prayed and asked Jesus into my heart. Now I’m going to heaven.” Then he said, “We’ll have a new body.” She said, “We will?” He said, “Yeah…Daddy told me.” At some point, in regard to his decision, he said, “I’m so glad.”