I’m tired of this world, aren’t you? Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. I refuse to believe that our life here on Earth is all there is. There has to be more than living, dying, and paying taxes right? Yes, there is so much more…
We each get to choose to live in faith or fear. It’s one way or the other. I had lived many of my years in fear. Fear of failing, fear of success, fear of imperfection, fear of love, fear ad infinitum! I’m sure I’m not alone. I didn’t grow up in church at all. I had only been there when someone died, ick. Not a good first impression. Especially in downtown Chicago when the mass was in Latin. I felt like I fell off the turnip truck in the middle of nowhere. How about you? What was your first time to church?
Once I was in my 30’s or so I started going to many, many different types of 12 step meetings. Of course, most of these were held in the basement of a church, lol. One night the Pastor came down and invited us all to come to church. I thought why not? What could it hurt? I was already a mess trying to find myself.
Sunday came around and I made it there by 10:30 am. I don’t really remember the message but I liked the hymns. And everyone was so friendly. It was rather strange I though, but normal to them. I remember the Pastor saying I had to repent, and ask Jesus in my heart to forgive my sins. I didn’t know what a sin was at that time. And I certainly did not know Jesus.
I guess the scariest thing I heard was John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
What? I am a new person and why on earth would I want to live forever? My life was miserable as it was. I was recently divorced, lost custody of the kids, in a new town, and at a new job. Who would want to relive that for eternity?
I kept going to Church to learn more. Mostly because these people were happy and laughing all the time. I hadn’t laughed in a very long time, mostly just tears. As I progressed on my journey I finally read the Bible, accepted the Lord, and learned that I could have a NEW LIFE! Praise the Lord, Hallelujah! Why didn’t they tell me that at the beginning? I would love a new life, sign me up! Now that was something that I could hold on to and not let go!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Then I made a choice: faith in God over the fear in my life. Has it been easy? No. But it is worth it! I started thanking God for all sorts of things, even before I saw them with my eyes. If God can make this whole world by framing it with His Word, then He sure can make a new life for me using that same Word! And yes, God can and will give you a NEW LIFE, He promised!
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the [c]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. – Hebrews 11:1-3
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