I became a Christian at the age of 29 when God revealed Himself to me in a spiritual way showing me how I stood in His sight. All my life before becoming a Christian, I had always believed in God, even to the point of fearing Him. I would often think about standing before Him when I died, and it would send shivers down my spine, but I never fully knew why.
The problem was that my belief in God the Creator, Jesus His Son who was crucified, and the Holy Spirit had no substance. I had no real knowledge or understanding. My belief was innate within me and I did not understand properly. However, I was always fully aware of His authority over me. I took going to church very seriously, till I reached my late teens, then I went out into the world, and God became just someone I believed in, not fully understanding why. My life in the world took me down many paths, some good, and some bad.
However well my friends thought of me, and however much my family loved me, I never felt secure or 100% happy. Sometimes I would pray because even without any knowledge of Him, I just felt I could trust Him, and that nothing was impossible for Him to perform. Approximately six months before I became a Christian, there was a need in me, that I needed to be fulfilled, but I didn’t know what it was, or where to find it.
I read the Bible from beginning to end. I didn’t understand it, and I became more frustrated as my need grew stronger. One Bible verse I read was Matthew 22:32: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” This verse had me all confused because I knew Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were dead. Finally, I decided to go to my local parish church, but that didn’t help either. I just felt dead inside. As I was walking past Ramsbottom Evangelical Church, as it was named at the time, I just knew that was where I needed to go; but seeing lots of young people coming out put me off, due to my lack of confidence and self-esteem.
The following week a tract came through my letterbox inviting me to go and hear Billy Graham speak in Liverpool, and it was from the Evangelical Church. I said to myself out loud “Yes! Yes!” because I had finally got a connection to my need inside. To be honest, I can’t remember a word Billy Graham said, I only knew I was getting closer to fulfilling this need I had, even though I still didn’t know what it was; I just knew I had to find it. Coming home on the coach I was invited to the Sunday morning service. Listening to the sermons over the next five weeks was very challenging, and at times confusing, but also very inspiring.
The God of all grace revealed to me I was a sinner. I knew I had to do something about it, but I didn’t know what. I heard that I had to go to the cross at Calvary, but in my ignorance, my thoughts were, “How I am going to be able to go all that way?” I got up one morning feeling empty, for some reason feeling my time was running out. I said, “God, you’re going to have to tell me what to do,” and He did: in a moment. The foot of the cross was my living room, where I knelt down, and begged God to forgive me a sinner, and I asked Jesus to come into my life.
At that time I felt my Lord open His arms to receive me. It was the most wonderful feeling; I truly had been saved. I now understood the meaning in Matthew 22:32, because I had now been made alive unto God, and it is all because my Lord Jesus Christ was willing to sacrifice His Life on the cross for my sins. Praise God my Heavenly Father for His grace. Praise my Lord Jesus Christ for His sacrifice. Praise the Holy Spirit for opening my heart and ears to the things of God.
Also Read:
- Understanding God: God of Delegation
- Purpose: Sent to Redeem and Upgrade (1)
- The Pencil Story
- Delivered From a Sinful Lifestyle
- An Easter Reflection
You can now partner with the Daily Dew Ministry by clicking here.
