My Testimony
The most memorable testimonies involve drugs, sex, hopeless depression, and suicide attempts. When people ask me of my salvation, they aren't in for a fascinating story. However, to me it is one of the most exciting times of my life. I became a Christian when I was seventeen, during the Fall of 1995.
My parents moved our family to San Antonion way back when I was in third grade. When they moved, they also decided to begin going to a Methodist church. In hinhsight, it was what I call a dead church. In the seven years that I went there, not once did I hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. The traditional stories were told and all the traditional ceremonies held, but the church was really nothing more than a social club. Not once was I asked to share the Gospel with other people. Our family gave our due alloawance and warmed our favorite pew. Now realize, I hadn't grown up in a life of crime, drugs, or alcohol. I was basically a good person by secular standards. Because of this, I didn't think there was anything missing in my life.
Seven years later, we moved again. This time I was half was through my junior year in high school. I had to leave my girlfriend at the time, my good friends, and a school I came to accept as my own. I was neither happy nor excited about leaving. At the time, I felt like it was the worst thing that happened to me in my life. It was, rather, the best thing God could have done for me.
When we moved the second time, we again began attending the local Methodist chuch. This time the church wasn't completely dead. It still had an excellent youth program. For the first time, I heard a clear presentation of the gospel: just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws that govern your relationship with God. God loves us and created us to know Him personally. Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love. However, we must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.
This, at first, seemed so strange. I had gone to church, got good grades, even read the Bible on occasion. So ar first I just ignored it as one ignores a "Caution - Wet Floor" sign - I see it and I understand what it says, yet I wouldn't think twice about it. However, after hearing a couple times, I finally took it seriously. Once it was explained to me using verses from the Bible, I didn't doubt its authenticity.
So sometime during the fall semester of my senior year in high school, I accepted Jesus into my life. I really didn't experience much growth at first. But then God took control and He hasn't let me go since. I'm now in my forth year of college and I feel that I have grown so much during the last four years. I don't even consider myself the same person that I was in my junior year of high school. "All things old have passed away and all things have become new" (II Chorinthians 5:17).
I can think of no greater joy than glorifying God and serving Him in a worshipful way. I can not wait until the day I see Christ face to face in Heaven. However, it's difficult at times. But I have to remember: God hasn't called me to be successful, He's called me to be faithful. When I keep this in mind, it's like wrapping up in a blanket and sitting in front of a fire on a cold winter's day. The fire keeps me warm, sustains me, and gives me joy. God does the same but does it to an extent which nothing on earth can compare.
Lord, you are awesome. I love you with all of my being and I thank you for dying on the cross for me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and have me live a life according to your will.
