The Every Village Project

Hello, my name is David Ballinger, and this is my story.

”Work hard.” I remember hearing these words as a boy—cutting, splitting, and carrying logs to the house to stay warm in winter. “Work hard.” I remember hearing them as we rebuilt the roof of a building that burned down. “Work hard.” I remember being told this as I carried blocks and mixed mortar. “Work hard” were two words that were supposed to keep me out of trouble. They teach character, discipline. I was often told that idle hands are the devil’s workshop. So, if I work hard, I would be okay, right?

One summer as a kid, I attended a youth camp. One night during a church service, a friend wanted to be saved but was afraid to go to the altar alone, so I went with him. That same night, I said yes when asked if I wanted to be saved by our counselor, but I didn’t really understand what it meant. I said “the prayer,” eventually got baptized, and worked hard at trying to be good. But as a kid, no matter how hard I worked at being good, my temper and anger would take over, and I’d get in trouble for fighting and disobedience.

One night, around 9 years old, I got in trouble for fighting with my sisters. Working to get out of trouble, I told my parents that I needed to “get saved.” I said another prayer, got baptized again, but this did nothing to change who I was. No matter how hard I worked, I still messed up. As I got older, I worked hard to convince people that I was good. I dressed right at church, learned Bible verses, and tried to sound like a Christian. I even won a Christian Character award in school. But once I got away from the adults and was around my friends, I’d take off the “work gloves” and could finally be myself. I enjoyed sin; I enjoyed not having to pretend to be something that I wasn’t. It was just easier.

At the age of 14, my grandmother passed away, and we moved to help at my grandfather’s Christian camp. That summer, I worked hard, but I was struggling. The older I got, the harder it was to keep up the facade of what I truly was. Everyone thought I was a Christian, but when I got around real Christians, I felt out of place. I had no peace. 

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

One Thursday morning during camp, I went to the church service. During the preaching, I finally was honest with myself and God. I was tired of trying to convince everyone I was a Christian. The Bible teaches us that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” I knew this, but I never really admitted that I was that sinner. I was going to hell because I had rejected Jesus Christ as my savior. I was trying to be my own savior by working to be good enough. In my heart, I knew works didn’t save, but working hard made me feel better, right? No, not really. All that hard work only left me empty and tired. Hebrews 4:10 tells us, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” I wanted rest from my labors, but how? What did I need to do?

Paul declares the Gospel in I Corinthians 15:2-3, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” The Gospel is the Death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the work he did for me so that I could be saved and have rest. Romans 10:10-11 tells us, “For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

On July 5th, 2001, I quit working, knowing Jesus died for my sins. I didn’t have to repeat a prayer, get baptized, keep the law, or do anything. That morning, I repented and believed the Gospel (Mark 1:15). I let go of all my works and my ways of salvation and believed the Gospel, and Jesus’ works were enough to save me.

Friend, my life changed when I stopped working and simply trusted Christ for my salvation.

What’s your story? Are you like I was, working hard trying to make it? Are you relying on works, experiences, baptism, laws, or rituals? Friend, none of these things died for you, and they can’t save you, but Jesus Christ did, and He will save you if you repent, let go of everything else, and just trust Him and His work as your only way of salvation.