| I was 8 years old when I first became a Christian. I did it because about 350 other people were going forward at the Easter passion play my family and I were at. I went up, said the prayer in unison with the others, and got a Bible and some literature on how to nurture my new found faith. I quickly forgot about all that as the weeks following passed. I knew that I had made an important decision, but nothing really changed.... it was like I took the gift and never used it. As the years went on, my life became a roller coaster as I explored many things that God didn't approve of. At the start of my freshman year, I was invited to a party with the guys in the marching band drumline with me. I was 15 and very impressionable, and felt that rebellion was more fun than obedience, so when the beers were passed around I grabbed one,and later on when pot was lit up, I smoked it with the rest of them. This was the start of 3 1/2 years of substance abuse and rebellion. All told, by the middle of my senior year, having barely squeaked by with my grades, I had used marijuana and cocaine regularly, tried acid once, and had become all but dependant on alcohol. My parents tried many different things to get me to straighten up, but I was having too good a time. Around December of my senior year, I just stopped. I didn't know why, but now I see how it was God working in me. Two weeks after I left it all, the guys I partied with were busted when one of them overdosed at a party. I was devastated at the thought of my friend in such a state, but grateful that I was now away from it all, and for some reason, had no desire to be there anymore. I rededicated my life to Christ on December 29, 1997 in my bedroom. It's ironic that the day before my physical birthday, I had a spiritual birthday.... I didn't plan it, I just knew that God needed me to do this, and I needed to live totally for him. Now I am looking forward to getting married in a year to the most beautiful and godly woman in the world, I have a great job, and God is working amazing things in my life day by day. Temptations still arise, and occasionally I feel like I want to go and get high or drunk, but God is great, and it is by his strength that I have been clean for almost 4 years. God has given me more than I can ask for, and I am so grateful for his hand in my life, and for the way he pulled me up out of the dead life I was leading. Wes, Age 22 |
| Saved From A Dead Life |