Deathbed Conversion
Since 1974, when I was saved at age 16, I had a strong desire to see my family members come to Christ. The joy I was experiencing after the misery of constantly “working to earn my salvation” as a devout Catholic was so wonderfully real that it was my ongoing desire and prayer to see my two siblings and parents know this peace.
In early 2023 my sister, Kendra, was in hospice. She had never married and had lived in San Diego most of her adult life. Kendra was attractive, well-traveled, and successful in work and hobbies. Our worldviews were very different. There were many periods of estrangement in our relationship, but my prayers for Christian friends in her life were answered several times.
In 2014 Kendra’s health started deteriorating. The physical and mental changes caused her to become distressed and isolated. She continued to stay in contact with my brother and me. Finally, mercifully, God’s grace was displayed miraculously.
Kendra had a terrifying dream (of hell?) and in distress had the trustee come into her hospice room. They called me and I read to her the verses that I had sent that week in a card. John 3:16-18 (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whosoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”), Acts 16:31 (“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”), and Romans 5:8 (“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”).
I read them twice – slowly. Kendra emphatically said “Yes” over and over. It was confirmation to me that my strong-willed sister had accepted what Jesus had done for her to secure eternity in heaven. My sister died peacefully that night. Kendra is a “whosoever” finally.
– Liz Anthony
