Natural Life: Testimony of Gene Anderson

It wasn’t going to be a very big island, just large enough to facilitate the things that I deemed necessary on it. Drawing our energy from the sea, sun, and wind, I planned on it being a totally self-sufficient nation, not dependent upon any foreign country for anything.

There would be no money, no bills, no charge for anything. All living on the island would be required to perform the job that they were hired for. Food, housing, transportation, entertainment, etc., would be provide by the government. (Island Control=IC)

I decided on an island because I thought it would be easier to defend. I would have an army, navy, and air force. Attack helicopters and vertical takeoff jets would eliminate the need for a lengthy runway. Undersea lookout posts, submarines, and trained dolphins would be our underwater “eyes.”

Island pride would be strongly enforced. The first offense of littering would find the guilty party cleaning the streets for five straight days, five hours a day before or after their regular shift. Unfortunately, the island was going to have its dark side. Our “business” would be comprised of international espionage, sabotage, and blackmail.

Those living on the island would be classified from 1 (high level risk) to 4 (low level risk). A level three or four wanting to leave the island would have a somewhat fair chance of reaching their destination. However, a level one or two could come up “missing.” As long as the resident did everything that they were supposed to do, they would be OK, but if they did anything that I did not like, the consequences could be severe.

This was part of my ultimate goal: to obtain an island and run it in a Utopian fashion that would set the standard for all other countries. It was set in my mind that nothing on or above this earth was going to keep me from this dream. No matter the cost—including family and friends—I would become the “Supreme Commander” on the “Black Empire.”

I made up names for cities, such as, Borgan-York and Rintzmitter. I designed insignia for the various ranks of officers and spent hundreds of dollars on my own person hat, insignia, and uniform. My closest friends at the time already had their offices. One was my Industrial Marshall, one was my security chief, and the other would be in charge of “dirty work.” Yes—I was serious.

One of my ideas was to become a hitman. And to be one, I needed a gun. So, I bought one through a friend (“Bill”) with the understanding that I would not have to get it registered. Evidently, there was a miscommunication, because after I had it modified to accept a silencer, the guy that I bought it from told Bill that I either had to get it registered or sell it back to him. Well, I could not get it registered because it had been altered. And, I had no intention of giving back the “tool of my trade.”

With my refusal to do either, the guy started asking Bill where I lived. Bill refused to tell him, so the guy threatened to break Bill’s legs, if he did not give me up. When Bill asked what we should do, my response was that we had to “eliminate” the “problem.” Again, nothing was going to come between me and my island.

So, we planned it out. And, on July 4th, 1985, I took that man’s life. The crime was easy to commit. But, the day after, while looking at myself in the mirror, my conscience was tearing me up. “What have you done,” I kept thinking. But, instead of allowing this moment to change me for the better, I hardened my heart and the remorse soon left.

A year-and-a-half later, thinking that I had gotten away with murder, I was arrested. While sitting in the county jail, I kept thinking, “Is this how the ‘Empire’ is going to end?” I also tried to convince myself that this was just a nightmare and that I would soon be waking up. But this was a real as it gets!

natural life

One of the worst things about this was realizing how many people who cared about me would be shocked and devastated by what happened. This was one of a few times in my life that I actually felt sorry for those who would be affected by my actions.

Once I was in my cell, and having no religious background, I did something that I had never done before—I picked up a Bible and began to read it. GENESIS 1:1: “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH…” As I continued to read through the rest of the Chapter, I thought those were the most awesome words that I had ever read.

I read it every day and went to services whenever I could. The LORD knew that I needed all the help that I could get, so HE had me housed on the floor where all the religious services were held. The Bible says that “THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK (alive) AND POWERFUL…” (HEB. 4:12), and it began to work in me.

After about a month, my need for salvation was fully realized. I needed forgiveness and I knew that only JESUS CHRIST could provide it. I knelt beside my bunk and asked the LORD to forgive me for all my sins—and HE did!

Even though I was feeling miserable for all the evils that I had done, I knew that I had been given a new life and that I was not the same wicked man that I used to be. I was a “NEW CREATION” (II COR. 5:17). The evidence for this miraculous change is incredible. My hatred for those who “betrayed” me was gone. GOD had given me a value for human life. I was sent to the state prison on December 16, 1987. Even though I am in prison, I can truly say that I am freer now than when I was I the world. Out there, I never had CHRIST, I was a tormented person.

It is called a Gift. “FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST” (EPH. 2:3).

JESUS can do the same for you. No one is so bad that God cannot or will not forgive anyone who comes to HIM: “COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART:” AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT” (MATT: 11:28-30).

Testimony of Gene Anderson—Michigan
Con-Tracts © 2019
Founder: Paul Bero—Michigan
Artist: R. Spooner—Michigan

This tract may be copied in its entirety for free distribution.

The courts tell me that I will die I prison. Even if I do, what is this life compared to eternity? As Jesus said, “FOR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?” (MATT.16:26) First, admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, because everyone has sinned (ROM. 3:23). Then, repent of your sins and ask JESUS to forgive you. “FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED” (ROM. 10:13)