I must have been about 12 years old when I visited Philadelphia, PA. It was an exciting trip. We saw The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and many other sites. But, probably the most memorable part of the whole trip that included D.C., Pittsburgh, Wheeling and many other sites, was when we walked out of Independence Hall and met Ben Franklin.

Our family got our picture taken with him and as we left my dad gave "Ben" one of his calling cards. We had started to walk away when "Ben" came running up to us and asked a question. The question is not as important as what took place after that question was answered. My dad was able to show "Ben" that Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" That because of sin whether it be murder, lying, stealing, or homosexuality the penalty is death (Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death....) and that death is more than just our bodies dying because Revelation 21:8 tells us "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." He went on to tell "Ben" That he didn't have to die and go to hell because the second part of the verse of Romans 6:23 says, "....But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" He told "Ben" that all he needed to do to be saved from hell and to have ALL his sins forgiven forever and to know for sure heaven is his home when he dies was to believe what it says in Romans 10:9 "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."

Then, right then and there on the busy sidewalk in front of Independence Hall "Ben" prayed something like this.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I believe you died on the cross for all my sin past, present, and future. I believe that you rose again three days later and that you will save me from the fires of Hell and take me to heaven when I die."

From that day forward "Ben" knew he was on his way to heaven. I never met "Ben" again but I can assure you of two things.
1) That Ben DID sin again. And
2) That Jesus Christ already forgave him for all his sins 2000 years ago on the cross and when "Ben" dies he will go to heaven to live eternally with the Lord.

The greatest thing about visiting Philadelphia is that we changed on man's eternal destiny. But it doesn't have to be just one man. Any one who will read this and pray like "Ben" did to ask Jesus to save them from their sins can also know their eternal destiny too.

Will You?