How I became a Christian
I have always loved working on cars—especially
Classic Scandinavian and European automobiles. I've owned Saabs, Jaguars, and most recently a BMW. Those cars have been
fun to drive and to maintain—a good diversion from the every day cares of life. Ask anyone who knows me and they'll
tell you I'm a car nut. But as much as I enjoy tinkering with older cars, there is something that defines me even more—my
faith in Jesus.
Although I had grown up in a Christian home and had attended a good church and Christian
school, I was quite unsure about my relationship with God. At the time, I would have claimed to be a Christian, but my lifestyle
wasn't much different than those who were not. But that all changed during my first week of college. One Friday evening,
I heard an old preacher talking about people who live hypocritical lives. Although he didn't know me, I felt as if he
was speaking directly to me. That night God used his message to get my attention. God convinced me of my sinfulness compared
to his perfect holiness1 and my inability to save myself from the judgment I deserved2.
That evening, God changed my mind about the way I was living. And it was then that I chose to leave my
sin and believed the good news about Jesus. According to the Bible, he is God's Son who died for my sins on
the cross and rose again three days later. When I believed that, God saved me from eternity in Hell—the punishment I
deserved—and he completely changed my life.
It was an immediate change! From that day on, I wanted to
read the Bible, pray to God, and tell other people what God had done. I'm definitely different than what I used to be3. Now that God has changed me, I have a new life filled with God's best for me. It's not always easy, but
I can see and appreciate what God is doing in my life. I hope you will come to know him as well.
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1 See Romans 3:23
2 See Ephesians 2:8-10
3 See 2 Corinthians 5:17
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