Friday, October 12, 2007

For the Father loves the Son and tells him everything he is doing, and the Son will do far greater things than healing this man. You will be astonished at what he does.
John 5:20

Jesus Christ and the truths of the Bible are not simply facts to be stored in our minds, they are truths that we are invited to experience in a personal way. God invites us to a personal relationship with Him. The evidence points convincingly toward Jesus Christ. After reviewing the evidence, we each must make the decision to move in the direction the evidence is pointing. It is then that we experience the reality of God in our lives. Although an individual's experience is a subjective thing, it is part of the proofs that authenticate faith.

When I first heard that the God of the universe loved me and desperately wanted a relationship with me, I thought it was the greatest news I ever heard. As I began to share my newfound discovery, I met scholars who seemed to have convincing proof that this was all a religious fantasy.

As I searched for answers I came across several Christian scholars who were able to defend the authority of the Bible and the claims of Christ. As I weighed the arguments and questioned men and women on both sides, I could not deny the overwhelming evidence that supported the Bible and the claims of Christ. Eventually I came to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is Lord.

I then realized it was time for a decision. Often we do not have all the answers, but we move in the direction in which the evidence is pointing. For example, many of us do not really know for sure if the person we are marrying is the right one. However, we make our decision based on the evidence we see at the time. If I find that I can communicate with my fiancé, our personalities are compatible, and that we share the same values, we move in the direction in which the evidence is pointing. When we make the commitment to marry, then our decision is confirmed definitively. Till we make the commitment, we base our decision on the evidence at hand. The same is true with becoming a Christian. Although we do not have all the answers, we can have enough faith to make a decision. When we commit our lives to Christ, we then experience the fullness of a relationship with the risen Savior.

It was then that I made the conscious decision to believe in Jesus Christ. I asked Christ to forgive my sin and invited Him to be the Lord of my life. Although nothing dramatic happened, I knew I had changed. I experienced the peace that comes from knowing your sins are forgiven. I experienced the joy of knowing I was placed here with a purpose and that there is meaning to my existence. Although I still had some questions, sins that I struggled with, and difficult trials, I had an ever-abiding peace and joy I had never had before.

The more I studied the Bible, the more the world around me began to make sense. I gained a new understanding in all my academic studies. The complexity of life on earth, biological organisms, and planets reflected the character and intelligence of a loving Creator who wants us to enjoy His creation.

My struggles in relationships were the results of selfishness, and a sinful attitude in my heart. Once I began to follow the principles of Christ's love, my friendships became much more meaningful and joyous, not competitive. I experienced freedom from living up to others' expectations because the God of the universe loved me just for who I was.

I experienced the reality of the Bible promises as I applied them to my life. My faith continues to grow each time I see that God's truth works in every day life. The more time I spend with God in prayer, in study, and in worship, the stronger my faith becomes.

How do I know Christianity is true? The facts behind it along with my experience of God's promises confirm it.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Pastor Chad,

I was raised in a Christian family from birth. Because I had the faith of a child, I did not seek answers that proved my faith was true to me or others. As I look back to those days, I was content without questioning how valid my faith was or how historically accurate the Bible was. The only time I can remember questioning God's existence is when I went through a time of deep depression in my early twenties.

Now, I ask myself, "What kept me faithful to my Christian roots through it all?" My brothers and sisters chose various paths and they had the same upbringing. But I continued to walk the narrow way. Yes, I have taken several spiritual journeys within the faith and I have been tried by the enemies of my soul. Yet, nothing could tear down my loyalty to my Lord Jesus.

I would have to say that LOVE was the magnetic force that proved to me that my creator was real. My parents modeled God's love to me. My Sunday School Teachers modeled God's love to me. My Pastor modeled God's love to me. My Friends and Mentors modeled God's love to me. Many of my relatives modeled God's love to me. And greatest of all, the love Jesus showed for me by His sacrifice proved to me that I was of great value to Him.

Why did some of my siblings choose a different road? I think that they wondered too far outside that circle of love too often. I feel that a child of God needs to make a constant effort to engage with other believers and must stay active in the church to stay strong in the faith.

Over the years, God has shown me his power and presence in so many ways. He has shown me so much more than an archeologist could ever dig up. I pray that my life can be a light for others to see that God is real.

- Victor