My story of how I became a Christian
My story has nothing to do with dramatics, tangible or instant changes. It is however greatly life changing. Many of you may be where I was, not uncaring but indifferent; I really didn’t think about going to Hell, unfortunately I didn’t think about going to Heaven either. Until the year that I moved to Minnesota, I never realized just how far I had already traveled down the wrong trail
It all started when I first came to Eagle Brook Church as a courtesy to my sister and brother-in-law. Who were kind enough to allow me to live with their family until my house was sold in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once the house was sold my wife could move out here and we could buy a house somewhere in the area. Since I was living under their roof and they asked me if I would like to come to church with them sometime, well, I felt like I owed it to them to go. So since going to any church was the last thing I wanted to do, I decided to get it over with so I could tell them thanks but it wasn’t for me.
You see even though I didn’t realize it I kind of lost my faith long ago. Yes I believed in God, I even prayed sometimes. However I never really trusted God since I was taught only to fear Him. I guess I feared Him so much that I thought he never really cared about me. For who am I that God should think about me much less love me. That’s where I was wrong. I didn’t think I was really evil, but I also knew I definitely wasn’t good. I thought I wasn’t good nor bad enough for his notice, so how could I earn His forgiveness when I couldn’t even forgive myself.
I believed that if I put on a façade and blamed everyone else by saying that they were hypocrites, and that they drove me from church, therefore from God. You see they went to church on Sunday, and the rest of the week they treated others like dirt, or got drunk on Friday and Saturday nights, but come Sunday, they were again holier than thou, and condemned me for not going to church. By other peoples actions I thought that if you were a true Christian, you have to preach fire and brimstone, and tell everyone they need to convert or they would go to Hell. Also I was led to believe that what the church preached in their doctrine was Gods gospel. So I just figured that if I didn’t go to church, I was as good or better in Gods eyes than they were, because I wasn’t pretending or proclaiming to be something I was not.
Now comes my awakening in the form of Pastor Bob Merritt, the first real person that I believe lives what he preaches. Better yet, he shares his real life experiences that show he is not perfect, but that he is a sinner not unlike myself, (well probably not that bad but a sinner none the less). As I started going to Eagle Brook Church on a regular basis and listening to Pastor Bob, he made me realize that my eyes have been closed for my entire life. For you see, I didn’t know this, but my life was empty before I came to Christ. Fortunately I was saved one day during Worship Service; it was like Pastor Bob was talking directly to me, I realized then that not only do I need God, but I want him in my life, and I could have a one on one relationship with Him that I never dreamed was possible. I’ve always believed in God but I also believed that I had to earn his love. However on that day I found out that God loves me just the way I am. And that the only way to God is through acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and that Jesus’ death was payment for my sins.
So when Pastor Bob offered me the chance to proclaim to God my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in prayer, I did. At that time I felt like the Holy Spirit washed over me and filled me with peace. Since then I have had God induced hole in my heart that longs to be filled with Gods word and his love. I also want to give him praise for His Glory every day of my life. Therefore on a daily basis I try to learn a little more about this walk (relationship), I have started with God. Hopefully one day when I meet God, He will look at me; smile, and I will know that He is proud of me.
I realize that this wont be easy and that it is going to be a long journey. But at least I am finally on the right path with Salvation at the end of the trail. I also know that even when I didn’t believe in God, He believed in me.
That’s my story, now here I stand before God a sinner; a sinner who is destined – not deserving – but by the Grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ, I will one day be in Heaven.
Thank you Pastor Bob for showing me the way. You are in my prayers daily when I ask the good Lord to be with you and keep you all the days of your life – Amen.