Many people believe that they have to study the Bible to become a Christian, or that Christians became such as a result of being taught the Bible. I guess they think that because in other "religions" thats what defines them, what they are taught, and how much they learn, but you see, Christianity isn't a religion, Christianity is a relationship with God. How I became a Christian underscores that reality. You see, I don't believe in Jesus because of the Bible, I believe in the Bible because of Jesus. |
Because He truly met me just where I was at, in a shopping mall in 1980 and changed me inside.
I was 18, a friend and I went to a local mall to girl watch. As we walked along, we were approached by
a woman and a man, the man looked like someone had tried to hang him, but his wife was beautiful.
So we listened, after all what 18 yr old boy could pass up a chance to oggle a beautiful lady?
(I have since come to know that godliness and the joy that it brings can make a woman truly beautiful inside and out).
As we listened, they told us that Jesus had healed him and saved his life. I was sketpical to say the least,
however, the guy looked like he should be dead, he had a massive scar around most of his neck,
and it really looked like he had been hanged. They said that in order to thank God for having saved his life,
they had committed themselves to telling people about Jesus.
As they shared with us about Jesus, I found that what they said was something I wished that I could have,
but I knew that I didnt really believe in God. And to be quite honest, I was also sure that if there was a God,
I was the last person He would really want to have anything to do with. But, when they asked us to pray and accept Jesus,
I knew that I wanted the _LIFE_ that I saw in their eyes and the _JOY_ that I saw on their faces, so, before I prayed with them,
I said in my heart, God, I dont know if you are real, but if you are I want this, I will try to believe,
but You will have to meet me where I am.
And then I prayed a prayer (out loud) with them like:
As I prayed it, I felt something incredible happen inside me. It felt like a weight that I had always been carrying
on my shoulders was suddenly, and forecefully, ripped away, and because it had been there all my life, it was not till it was gone
that I noticed that it had there in the first place. I felt a peace and joy that I had never felt before, deep inside.
It radiated up through my whole being. It was as if I glowed from deep inside with _PEACE_ and _JOY_, for the first time in my life
I was truly _ALIVE_...
Mind you, this happened to someone who didn't believe just a few moments before.
Jesus came into my life that day, in a very tangible and real way.
That is why I can truly say that Jesus is what caused me to believe in the Bible, not the other way around.
And if it weren't for a pretty face I might have spent years without Him. I was 18, that was 19 years ago now.
Because I had no real contact with Christians in my life, even though I had experianced the start of this awesome relationship with God,
I walked in complete ignorance of WHO God was, and also who I was. It wasn't until a few years after I accepted Jesus
that I began to read the Bible.
For about 3 years I went on with my old life, my behavior didn't change much, because while my spirit was new,
my soul was still unsaved, my mind was unrenewed, and my life was pretty much as it had been,
though I can notice subtile changes as I look back, I was a more loving person for one thing.
Today, the Bible has become my life, its truths have set me free, and they can keep me free.
They will set you free, and can keep you free too. One of the things that greatly contributed to my growth as a Christian,
after my 3 years of ignorance, was the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
They are a 24 hr/day 7 days/week Christian TV network.
Because TBN provides a platform to ministries from virtually every flavor of Christianity,
I was exposed to virtually every denomination and belief imaginable.
This exposure allowed me to hold all of it up to the scriptures.
And as a result, I have benefited from each of them. I simply held on to that which I could see in the Word.
Even the things that were taught that I can not see in the Word were good to be exposed to, since I was able to seek
the Word out for what it DOES say about that particular topic.
I am often heart broken by the strife and discord I see in the Body, especially when it is over doctrinal matters.
After all, Jesus didn't say "indoctrinate one another", he said "Love one another". Don't get me wrong doctrine is important,
but Love is more important. Knowledge puffs up, but Love builds up. The only time that knowledge will build up,
is when it is spoken in Love. Love never fails. This is why TBN was and is such a blessing,
they provide a platform for ministries regardless of their denomination or doctrine. And in doing so the Body can only benefit,
because we all know in part, and when we are exposed to each others "parts" we can all grow.
If you would like to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord the way that I did in a shopping mall in 1980,
pray this prayer out loud:
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