My Personal Testimony
Before I Met Christ
I grew up in a non-religious household. By that I mean that we didn’t have a religion or a church, but we weren’t anti-religious. We just didn’t approach the subject much, and when it did come up, it was basically that you have to do more good than bad to go to Heaven.
But there were strong values in my home growing up. My mother and father instilled in me a sense of service, honesty and integrity. I believed in right and wrong, and that very few situations fell between the two.
I was a good kid, and later a good adult. I was nice and polite and rarely got into trouble. If asked, I would have been fairly sure I was bound for Heaven.
How I Realized My Need
Yet for all that goodness within me, I still felt there was something missing. I wondered where my values came from. Why did I believe what I believed? Religion was something that I wasn’t interested in personally, but I saw the good it did in the world and figured that was good enough to justify its existence.
I had no real faith—just a generic belief in God and Heaven and the Devil and Hell. Personally, I probably had a bad opinion of religion and its all too obvious hypocrisies.
But something stirred in me when I came across someone attacking religion, specifically Christianity or Jesus. I never could quite get a handle on it, but in those moments I felt as if I needed to be on the opposite side, standing up for Christ. I was not able to do so, and held my tongue. I knew I was incomplete.
How I Became a Christian
There were two generically spiritual moments that stand out in my memory as times when I felt the presence of God. Once, when I prayed for the first time since childhood for God’s will in approaching my first girlfriend from high school after four years apart (we’re now married with two kids!), and another time shortly after being married when my wedding ring fell off of my finger while doing yard work (after my very sincere prayer I saw it glimmering in the grass). But it was years before I became a Christian.
It seems obvious and simple now that I look back, but it was such a struggle. I wanted to believe. I needed to believe. But I simply couldn’t commit myself to something for eternity without knowing it to be absolutely true. I assumed I would always be searching and never find it.
But in my travels a lady came across my path. She’s a bit older than I am, not quite enough to be my mother but old enough that we could simply be friends. And we became good friends. I saw in her and her family a peace and calmness that I wanted for my own. After visiting their home once, I inquired about their faith and she dug in like a pit bull! She gave me a Bible and books and offered whatever time she had to help answer my questions. And I asked a lot of questions! Some even required her to study and examine her faith.
After more than a year of studying and praying, I finally made the “leap of faith”. I had tried so hard to understand all that there is to know about God, only to realize that no one will ever fully understand God. He is infinite and we are finite. I should have figured that out right off the bat!
What Being a Christian Means to Me
I know now that becoming a Christian is actually very simple. We are all sinners—no one is perfect (Rom 3:23). Sin requires judgment and penalty, and the penalty is death (Rom 6:23). That judgment can only come from One without sin (John 5:22;30). The penalty must be paid, and for those who accept Christ, the penalty was paid with Jesus’ death on the cross (Eph 1:7). God sent His Son to pay the penalty for us all (John 3:16-18). There can be no greater gift.
So today I simply let you know that that gift extends to you as well. It is offered for all who will accept it. Christians aren’t perfect. We struggle with life just like everyone else—the only difference is that Christ is gives us victory (life after death) over our failures (sin).
Even in our secular culture it is rude and an insult to tell someone to “go to hell.” But as a follower of Christ, every time I don’t share the good news of His sacrifice and forgiveness, that’s exactly what I’ve said. Instead, I say, “Go to Heaven!” Know Christ!
If you died today, would you go to Heaven? Why and are you sure? Will you be judged, or will you be forgiven?
To Become a Christian
Simply pray this prayer sincerely:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I need You. I want You to be my Savoir and Lord. I accept Your death on the cross as payment for my sins, and I now entrust my life to Your care. Thank You for forgiving me and for giving me a new life. Please help me grow in my understanding of Your love and power so that my life will bring glory and honor to You. Amen.”
I made this pledge on January 12th, 2003. –James B. Woosley