A Living Testimony
I have done this before, in a previous series I did years ago, but I am going to attempt a fresh take on the story of my life. (See the previous series, starting here: “Pivot, Pivot! #1: The Simplicity of Grace.”)
My purpose in doing this is not so that you will look over my life & think that I am deserving of praise, but so that no matter what stage of life you happen to be in, you can see the very clear blessing it is to surrender your life to the loving, almighty God who made you… NOW.
May this serve as a testimony of how much of a blessing it is to grow up a Christian… to surrender NOW (no matter how old you are) & not wait… to live a grace-filled life. A testimony of the beautiful grace of GOD ALMIGHTY.
Made to Give God Glory
We were made to bring God glory. All of us, whether we accept Him or reject Him. It is our purpose in life. Now, as God showed through the Pharoah in the retelling of Moses’ life (Romans 9:17), even those who reject God until death will serve as a highlight to God’s glory, to show others what NOT to do, essentially, & to show that no matter how much we fight God, He will win every time & that no matter how WISE & PROGRESSIVE we feel we’re becoming, our wisdom is NO match for that of God Almighty (1 Corinthians 3:19; Isaiah 55:9) & that no matter how much we reject God, He will pursue us with an opportunity for HOPE until the day we die (the day we meet our judgment before Him) (Hebrews 9:27) because that’s how much He loves even those who reject Him.
He desires that no one should perish but that all should come to eternal life in Him. (2 Peter 3:9)
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
But whether or not you get to personally experience the HOPE He offers, or whether you will bring Him glory through your rejection & missing out of that hope… God will be glorified.
I choose surrender. Not an “I give up” surrender, but an “I choose HIM over me” surrender.
The Sin Displayed in a Child
When I was a little kid, even from the beginning… maybe because I was the firstborn & felt pressure to be this way?… I wanted to please my parents & not get in trouble. But, I was still (& still am) human & I did act accordingly.
I begged at the grocery store, long after my mom’s nerves were shot, to be allowed a treat in the checkout aisle. I did the same when we were at any store, really… I wanted a toy or a new whatever. I think I saw my mom getting stuff & I wanted to feel grownup, too. But, nonetheless, I was no doubt headache-inducingly annoying sometimes about it.
I also have a sister 2 years younger than me, & we would get in all-out brawls. Slammed doors & “I hate you!!!” screaming & everything. The WORST was when Mom would make us HUG & say “I love you” “until we sounded like we meant it.” UGH. She would say, “friends come & go, but sisters are forever, so you guys have to make up & be good to each other.” (So, SO grateful for that now because I love having my sister as a best friend of mine. (This was long before my other sister-also a best friend of mine-was born.)
Sometimes I wouldn’t listen when asked to do something, because something else seemed far more important to me in that moment. Maybe I was styling my yard sale Barbie’s hair or coloring… any of which seemed more important than chores or helping my mom with something boring.
If you have kids, you are probably well aware of the fact that we are born sinners & my parents could probably list a LOT more things than I came up with here. As humans, we want what WE want. We want to serve SELF above anything else. It’s our innate nature.
I was no different as a kid.
Younger Years
I grew up going to church with my family. I don’t really remember too much about it from my preschool years, other than the nice people we went to church with, learning Bible verses for pieces of candy, or things like that.
But I do remember I owned an illustrated children’s Bible. I was curious about things I heard in church sometimes, although I didn’t always understand what it meant. I remembered hearing that God loved me & that Jesus died for my sins because it was often talked about… but I hadn’t really grasped on to what it meant.
It Clicked… I Was a Sinner… I Needed Jesus
Then there was one evening when I was sitting in bed looking at my children’s Bible around 5 years old & I remember seeing something about Jesus & asking God about it because I didn’t understand.
And at that moment, it clicked. Sin = things that made God angry? Sin = doing things God says not to do? Sin = why Jesus had to die for me?
And sin = not listening to & obeying my parents when they ask for my help with something? Choosing me first?
And sin = being mean to my little sister?
And sin = lying to my parents?
And sin = thinking mean things in my head?
I sinned. I was a sinner (still am). I make God angry. I do things God says not to do. I do things that made Jesus die for me.
And all of a sudden, I realized I was who that was talking about. (Well, not just me—but I certainly was not the exception to it!) I was the one needing Jesus to forgive my sins!
5 Years Old… Asking Jesus to Cover My Sins
It all seems so clear a memory looking back on it even right now, 35 years later. The weight I felt in my little kid heart. The need I felt for Jesus to forgive me so God would forgive me. I needed Him!
And so, I ran to my parents & asked them how Jesus could forgive me, too.
I remember sitting on the couch in our living room & my parents asked me questions about where this idea came from & what made me think I needed Jesus’ forgiveness. They wanted to make sure, no doubt, that I wasn’t just regurgitating words I heard from someone, but that my little child heart understood what I was asking.
And I told them it all. And I felt desperate that God please forgive me.
So, they walked me through it.
Jesus Saves! God Forgives!
God says, in Romans 10:9-10: “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (emphasis added)
So simple, even a child can understand, & yet so profound & life-changing!
“Repent [turn from your sin to God] therefore and be converted [let Him begin to change you to His ways over your own], that your sins may be blotted out [forgiven by God & washed away], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) (brackets & emphasis added)
“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
5-Year Old Me Was Saved from the Eternal, Deserved Consequences of My Sins That Day!
So my parents helped me to confess my sins to God & to ask Jesus to cover that sin for me so that I could have forgiveness & eternal life in Jesus Christ. Not because of what I did or did not do… but because of what HE did on my behalf.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And from that day on, my life was changed forever. I was set free from the consequences of my sin FOREVER… because of JESUS, not me.
More on that to come….
Growing Up a Christian–A Grace-Filled Life
I don’t know if maybe you’re tempted to believe kids are too young to get it… too young to hear about Jesus DYING for them. But let me tell you, they absorb much more than we often give them credit for & they need those words floating around in their brain as early as possible. Because, while God can meet you at any age… what a blessing it is to know Him early as I did.
Don’t EVER underestimate a child’s ability to understand their need for the Gospel… nor God’s power to reach into the heart of a little child & lead them to Him.
Shine HOPE by sharing the hope we have, through Jesus’ death & rising again, conquering sin & death on our behalf… even with the little children…. They’re listening.
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Luke 18:17) (Not that you have to BE a child, but to have a childLIKE faith. And if it requires us to have a childlike faith, then by all means… a child can have faith “worthy” of salvation, through faith in Jesus.)
My Prayer
God, many in my family are trying to live life their way, on their terms… & deep down, they know full well it isn’t working as they’d hoped. Open the eyes of their heart. Show them they need YOU. Break down their walls & bring them to their knees to humbly accept Your love & Your grace. You are enough. Break through & help them to have the faith of a child–not having to have it all figured out… but trusting You are full enough to fill in the gaps. Break their pride & lead them to the way everlasting…. And for those who struggle to preach the gospel to children, open their eyes through my testimony that You can reach into young hearts sometimes easier than the jaded adult hearts. Let us remember to be a light for You to any & every age. You can work where we see it impossible! In Jesus’ glorious, life-giving, gracious name, AMEN.”
Coming Next Week
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