What does this symbol represent?

The symbol shown above is called an ICTHUS which is the Greek word for "FISH".
In Greek characters, it looks like this: I C Q U S
which forms an acrostic:

Jesus - I h s o u V
Christ - C r i s t o V
God's - Q e o u
Son - U i o V
Savior - S w t h r

The symbol of the fish was used by early Christians to recognize each other during times of persecution.  Early Christians used the symbol of the fish to indicate that they were followers of Jesus Christ. 

…So that is the meaning of ICTHUS!

My name is Russ Anderson. I was born the only child of parents who loved me and respected God. Throughout my childhood we attended church as a family and tried many different denominations.

At the age of 17 I desired the heart of God and His will for my life but for whatever reason I had never met God in a personal way. I became involved with drugs, alcohol and the occult.

By the age of 28 I had all but forgot about my Sunday school memories of who God was, or at least who He was supposed to be.

I met with a friend once who asked me a question. He asked me what was going to happen when I die. I told him that I thought I would go to Heaven because I thought I was a "pretty good" person. He told me rather bluntly that Hell was filled with people who were "pretty good" people and some that were even better than me! He told me that all people have fallen short of the relationship God had intended for each of us and that there was no one perfect --not even one-- who deserving anything other then a death separated from God as a consequence.

As we left our meeting that night, a February ice storm had frozen the windows of my pickup truck. My friend and I waited inside the cab of the truck as the heat from the defrost vent melted the ice. In that time of waiting, my friend asked me if we could pray together.

He started his prayer and thanked Jesus for the opportunity to meet with me that night. He asked Jesus to work in my life and held a conversation with Jesus Christ, the creator of all Heaven and Earth in a way that clearly showed an ongoing personal relationship that I obviously did not have. He paused and waited for me to pray with him, but I had nothing I could say. I did not know this Jesus.

Sensing my loss for words he offered his help: "God's Holy Word says that if we admit that we have fallen short of God's desire for our lives and accept that Jesus Christ is God, willing and able to restore a relationship with us by asking Him into our lives, then we will be saved from a separation from God, now and after we die."

I confessed before Jesus Christ that night that I did not know Him. I asked Him to come into my life and start a relationship with me. He honored that prayer and gave me a peace that I have never known before.

I'd like to tell you that every day since that night nine years ago life has been wonderful... But I can't because it hasn't happened that way. I have experienced sickness and death in my family, depression, financial burdens, health problems and sadness. I am recovering from a divorce and sometimes still get depressed, but now I don't go through these things by myself. Jesus, true to His word has been there for me through it all. His words have comforted me and have always made me feel like I was not alone. Upon coming into your life, Jesus and you will develop a personal relationship in which He promises to never leave or forsake you. Jesus promises to stick closer to you then a brother and knows you so intently that He even knows the very number of hairs upon your head.

He has however given me victory over the occult, alcohol and a 3-pack-a-day cigarette addiction. He simply removed the desire from my heart to do these things anymore.

Today I talk with my Lord Jesus every day. When I awake in the morning I sense His presence and know that He has stood watch over me as I slept. He has also given to me many wonderful gifts. First and foremost after my gift of relationship with Him is a wonderful wife. (Irene) Together the three of us (Jesus, Irene and myself) continue to love and serve Jesus every day. 

My question now for you is this:

Do YOU know this Jesus?
What happens when YOU leave this world?

In Christ's Love,