I grew up in a Christian home, regularly attending Sunday school. As a child I loved hearing Bible stories of wars, heroes, villains and miracles. Each Bible ‘hero’ was backed by an incredible source of power: God. It was an exciting concept for a skinny, glasses wearing kid like myself.

I would have loved to be a warrior hero but in reality was a meek and well behaved child. I obeyed my parents, didn’t swear, and stayed out of trouble at school. Growing up into my teenage years I started attending church service and various bible studies. I was proud of my good reputation and biblical knowledge.

My main goal in life was to live a comfortable one – to be free from any difficulties. I wanted to become someone significant in the world and earn a lot of money. I also thought “the rules” I had learnt at church were decent, so I sought to obey them as best possible. I thought I was a pretty good person and you might’ve too had you known me back then. I couldn’t see it yet, but I was actually missing out on something huge… a personal relationship with a perfect and loving God.

I was like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day – I didn’t have a personal relationship with God but my façade may have fooled you otherwise:

These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me – Matthew 15:8

I had been taught about the Gospel, God’s good news for us. I knew that a person’s wrong doing separated him/her from a Holy God. I knew that God loved us so much that he bridged this gap, through his Son’s own death on a cross. This death really belonged to those who rebelled against God. One needed genuine faith in Jesus and an apologetic heart to restore this broken relationship and spend eternity with Him:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10

I “knew” the Gospel, but did I truly believe it? No, not in my early teens. It took me a while for the truth of the Gospel to hit but I’m glad it eventually did. I was maturing into a young man, and naturally started to think about life’s purpose. I contemplated the brevity of life and how I would choose to spend the rest of it. I started thinking about the biblical knowledge I had accumulated over the years. It dawned on me that the implications of what I was reading and studying were massive. I was readily accepting the peripheral Christian activities and traditions, but was neglecting the core Gospel message. If I truly believed what I read in the Bible, my life’s direction and purpose would need to change. My own standard of “good” was light years apart from God’s standard. I wholeheartedly accepted God’s amazing invitation for the first time:

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5

Things became clearer. I saw the love, joy and peace that my genuine Christian friends possessed and experienced it for myself. I appreciated the beauty of creation more then ever before. I had a strong desire to please God and to grow as a Christian.

Fast forward to present day. I am still blown away by Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s love for me. I daily surrender my own selfish desires and strive towards God’s purposes for my life. It has not always been an easy path to follow but the hope I have in Christ allows me to face each day with joy. I pray that if you haven’t experienced this, that you would go out and seek the truth. Start reading the bible, and find out for yourself. Take the time to do some research before you dismiss it. Following Jesus is most important decision I have ever made and will ever make in my life. That is why I am bothering to write this testimony! To share with others the incredible gift God offers all of us.

 “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” – Psalm 9:10

Blessings,

Aaron