Greatest Hits -- 2 Stories; Salvation Story

This is a part of my ongoing "Greatest Hits" blog series (more info here)
We're taking 30 of our students to New York Gospel Outreach in New York City the first week in July. As a part of our training, we've asked the students to write out two "stories" (or testimonies)...

1. Salvation Story - The story of how you entered into a relationship with Christ
2. Growth Story - A story about a significant lesson/experience you've had while following Christ.

As I looked through my two stories I found my next two "Greatest Hits" to share with you... Below is the first one.

My Salvation Story

I was born into a great Christian family, even extended family. Growing up I knew nothing but church. If the doors of the church were open, my family was there. Every morning, when I woke up, I would have to go to my parents bedroom with my two brothers and we would read from the bible together and pray for the day. In elementary school, I memorized verses, played the lead role in the church’s children’s program, put my quarters in the offering plate, and was always the first to pray for the missionaries in Africa. In Jr. High, I took leadership roles in the Youth Group, shared about what God was doing in my life in front of the entire church, and walked the halls of my school gladly stating that I was a Christian. In High School, I even led the Wednesday Night Youth service on two different occasions, became a member of the church, and was baptized. Sounds like a pretty impressive resume for a young Christian, right? But there was one slight problem, I wasn’t a Christian.

I can remember praying a prayer countless times that went something like this: “Jesus, save me, I don’t want to go to hell.” I really meant the last part of that prayer. I didn’t want to go to hell. But I also wanted to have control of my life. It was my choice, my way, MY LIFE! From grade school to High school, my head knowledge of Christianity and God continued to grow, but my heart began to harden, and my willingness to see Jesus work in my life became a distant goal. I would tell myself, “Someday later I’ll get it all straightened out, but not now. I’m having too much fun!”

I was having fun too . . . at least I thought I was. But I would always feel empty in the end. It was like I had a hole in me that couldn’t be filled by the “pleasures” I was seeking out.

When High School ended I left everyone with the impression I had my life all together and that Jesus was in control of my life. In reality, I was a compulsive liar; I had stolen money from several people; and females were no more than an object to bring me comfort and pleasure. There was one person who saw through me though. He was my youth pastor, Ken. Ken was actually the one who suggested I go to Bethel College. I didn’t want to go there at all, but for some reason I had so much respect for him that I decided I’d go. It was this “poorly” thought out decision that may very well have changed the course of my life.

College life was really awesome to start out. It was a fresh new start. I had no reputation to try to keep up. I had this whole new freedom. It almost seemed like I had run away from the emptiness and troubles. But it didn’t take long for my old life, old struggles, and that emptiness to creep back up on me. I can vividly remember that night in September when it all cam crashing down on me. It was a Saturday Night, and I was in my dorm room alone. I was laying in my top bunk, thinking. . . Where was I headed? What was the point? Why wasn’t I happy? How could I find hope?

I began to cry. And I don’t mean just a few tears welled up in my eyes. I was slobbering, heaving, wailing, little baby. I think I simply realized how pointless my life had been to that point. I didn’t really KNOW Jesus. He wasn’t my Savior, and he was far from being a friend. In the midst of my moans and tears, I cried out to God. I remember desperately saying, “If you’re really out there God, I need you. I’m at rock bottom. I have no hope. Are you there?” At that moment, the song that was playing on my stereo belted out these lyrics, “And he spoke to my heart, from the moment I prayed. There’s a pattern I’ve made for you. . .”I knew then and there that there was hope. It was almost as if I was on God’s lap, and he was stroking my back, comforting me. I still cannot remember a time where I felt so close to God!

The week following was what the College called “Spiritual Emphasis Week.” Where were special services every day and night. The speaker was a storyteller, and it felt to me like the stories were meant specifically for me. On the Tuesday Night, he talked about opening the door to Jesus much like Zaccheus did when he let Jesus into the house. I realized that I had started to open the door to Jesus, but I still hadn’t turned from the old ways, and given control to Jesus. On Wednesday morning, September 20, 1995, I took a public stand, saying I’m done trying to ACT like a Christian, and I was ready to BE a Christian. I turned myself over to Christ and recognized that I could “do” nothing in my own strength to be saved from death and hell. I recognized that Jesus death for my sins, and His victory over death was the only way I could be washed clean.

What happened after that moment was a process of eighteen years of teaching, learning, and living around Christians sank from my head to my heart. I had hope; I had peace; I had purpose. I not only had a Savior in Jesus, but a new eternal friend. My relationship with Jesus grows to this day. Much like I will sometimes fall short with my friends on Earth, I also fall short in my friendship with Jesus. But he never falls short. It is my life goal and I believe God’s call on my life to see that those who are growing up in “Religion” will not end up with only Religion, but instead a relationship with Christ. Do you know Jesus? Does he truly know you? Or do you only know about Jesus? It is my prayer that you know Him as Savior and Friend.

I leave with this passage from Matthew 7 where Jesus is talking. I have added in some personally specific statements:

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Didn’t we go to Church and Sing to you, and did we not get baptized, and serve on Ministry Teams? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”