Though my parents insisted that we went to church, I dragged my feet to church every Sunday. After all, church was boring to me. Yet, deep inside me, there was a great hunger to know God. I needed to be assured of the true path that leads to life.
I desperately sought for the reason for creation, the essence of our living, the purpose for everything done in the earth and even our destiny. Is there any life beyond this life? How can one be sure? Is there any hope for tomorrow? I wanted to know. I pondered on questions like, "If there is a God, who made Him?" " When and how will everything in existence end?" "If there is a heaven, where is it, and who has seen it?"
Part of my skepticism were born out of the many things I was taught earlier on that I grew up to discover were not really true. I was told that if I swallowed an orange seed, it would germinate inside my stomach and become a tree. So, what else have I held unto that wasn't true?
I therefore cultivated in me an incredible fear for believing a lie. In spite of that, the teachings I received from my parents had laid a solid foundation for my faith. I believed there was a hell to shun and a heaven to gain.
Yet, surrounded by different religions, it made me begin to wonder who is really right. Which one, among so many, is the right way?
In my search, I came to discover that God never established any religion. Religion is man-made. It is man's attempt to connect with Deity. It recognizes man's limitation and shortcoming and so devices means of reaching God, often through some medium. I discovered that there is a void within every man that craves to be filled.
Some have tried to fill that void by acquiring wealth, indulging in sensual pleasures or the lust for power. It is this same spiritual hunger in man that has given birth to the many religions we have in the world today. It is however pertinent to note that there is nothing created which can fill that void as it is put in there by our Maker so we can connect with Him. That alone is the secret of fulfilment and the key to satisfaction in life. The reason is simple. There is a spirit in man that cannot be satisfied with anything physical. It's easy to explain this. When someone dies, you say, "The person is gone." Though he is lying there (lifeless and motionless of course) yet you say he is gone. Why? Because the spirit has left.
Then there is an intellectual and emotional part to man resident in his soul or mind. That's why you know that a mad man has lost his mind, while a dead man has lost, not his mind, but his spirit - his real essence and the core or nucleus of his being. You then understand that man is a three-fold dimensional being made up of spirit, soul (mind) and body.
Such understanding began to give me a reason for living. It reinforces my belief that there is a God somewhere. There is a witness within my being - deep down in my spirit - that lets me know that there is a destiny ahead of me, and a life beyond this life, where I must render an account of my life before my Maker.
At a tender age, the whole family always prayed and read the Bible together. It became normal for me to do that as an adult.
Yet, deep within me, I had no peace. I knew I had not made that connection with God. Though I prayed regularly, my prayer was dry and made no impact nor brought any tangible result to me. Later I would discover from my Bible that God does not hear sinners (John 9:31).
Every human being was born in sin, as the seed of sin is inherent in us, being inherited from the first human - who sinned and lost the life of God in him - Adam.
That I was born by Christian parents did not make me a Christian, as much as I wouldn't be a Doctor simply because my parents were Doctors. Yes, I went to church, but I discovered that you can have blocks inside a building that are not part of the building. Just because someone lives in a University campus doesn't make one a student. Sleeping in a garage doesn't make you a car.
In like manner, going to church, giving alms, doing good deeds or saying your prayers do not translate to your being a Christian. Sure, there is the Christian religion which you could identify with, yet, religion never saves. In fact, it is the source of conflicts around the world and the path to bondage, and it has no answer for sin. True Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God, where one becomes a recipient of the love and life of God. And there is only one way to God - Jesus Christ His son, who died for us and shed His blood to wash our sins and free us from death and hell. As a sinner, you cannot save yourself. You need a Saviour.
When you invite Jesus into your heart and surrender to Him as your Lord and personal Saviour, you become a child of God and you are born again (John 3:3,7; Romans 10:9,10; 2Corinthians 5:7).
I asked Jesus to take over my life on Nov. 9, 1985, and I became born again. I received new life from God. Everything changed from that day. My destiny is secure in Christ. I am not afraid or doubtful of the future anymore. I have found the truth and the truth has made me free. I know that one day, my Saviour will return to take me home (heaven) with Him, but if He tarries, I will go and meet Him when my time on earth is done.
What are you waiting for? Go ahead right away and call on the Lord to save you. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Open your heart to Jesus and make Him Lord over your life. You will experience peace that surpasses understanding.
P.S.
One of the things that have helped is coming to the conclusion that the Bible is truly the Word of God and not just a religious pr historical document nor a theological textbook. What is written there applies to us and is relevant for us today. And it is the truth (John 17:17). The Psalmist came to this beautiful conclusion: "Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way." (Psalms 119:128).
I never argue or try to rationalize God's Word. I simply accept it. I believe it. I act on it. And every time I find out that the Word works.
I desperately sought for the reason for creation, the essence of our living, the purpose for everything done in the earth and even our destiny. Is there any life beyond this life? How can one be sure? Is there any hope for tomorrow? I wanted to know. I pondered on questions like, "If there is a God, who made Him?" " When and how will everything in existence end?" "If there is a heaven, where is it, and who has seen it?"
Part of my skepticism were born out of the many things I was taught earlier on that I grew up to discover were not really true. I was told that if I swallowed an orange seed, it would germinate inside my stomach and become a tree. So, what else have I held unto that wasn't true?
I therefore cultivated in me an incredible fear for believing a lie. In spite of that, the teachings I received from my parents had laid a solid foundation for my faith. I believed there was a hell to shun and a heaven to gain.
Yet, surrounded by different religions, it made me begin to wonder who is really right. Which one, among so many, is the right way?
In my search, I came to discover that God never established any religion. Religion is man-made. It is man's attempt to connect with Deity. It recognizes man's limitation and shortcoming and so devices means of reaching God, often through some medium. I discovered that there is a void within every man that craves to be filled.
Some have tried to fill that void by acquiring wealth, indulging in sensual pleasures or the lust for power. It is this same spiritual hunger in man that has given birth to the many religions we have in the world today. It is however pertinent to note that there is nothing created which can fill that void as it is put in there by our Maker so we can connect with Him. That alone is the secret of fulfilment and the key to satisfaction in life. The reason is simple. There is a spirit in man that cannot be satisfied with anything physical. It's easy to explain this. When someone dies, you say, "The person is gone." Though he is lying there (lifeless and motionless of course) yet you say he is gone. Why? Because the spirit has left.
Then there is an intellectual and emotional part to man resident in his soul or mind. That's why you know that a mad man has lost his mind, while a dead man has lost, not his mind, but his spirit - his real essence and the core or nucleus of his being. You then understand that man is a three-fold dimensional being made up of spirit, soul (mind) and body.
Such understanding began to give me a reason for living. It reinforces my belief that there is a God somewhere. There is a witness within my being - deep down in my spirit - that lets me know that there is a destiny ahead of me, and a life beyond this life, where I must render an account of my life before my Maker.
At a tender age, the whole family always prayed and read the Bible together. It became normal for me to do that as an adult.
Yet, deep within me, I had no peace. I knew I had not made that connection with God. Though I prayed regularly, my prayer was dry and made no impact nor brought any tangible result to me. Later I would discover from my Bible that God does not hear sinners (John 9:31).
Every human being was born in sin, as the seed of sin is inherent in us, being inherited from the first human - who sinned and lost the life of God in him - Adam.
That I was born by Christian parents did not make me a Christian, as much as I wouldn't be a Doctor simply because my parents were Doctors. Yes, I went to church, but I discovered that you can have blocks inside a building that are not part of the building. Just because someone lives in a University campus doesn't make one a student. Sleeping in a garage doesn't make you a car.
In like manner, going to church, giving alms, doing good deeds or saying your prayers do not translate to your being a Christian. Sure, there is the Christian religion which you could identify with, yet, religion never saves. In fact, it is the source of conflicts around the world and the path to bondage, and it has no answer for sin. True Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God, where one becomes a recipient of the love and life of God. And there is only one way to God - Jesus Christ His son, who died for us and shed His blood to wash our sins and free us from death and hell. As a sinner, you cannot save yourself. You need a Saviour.
When you invite Jesus into your heart and surrender to Him as your Lord and personal Saviour, you become a child of God and you are born again (John 3:3,7; Romans 10:9,10; 2Corinthians 5:7).
I asked Jesus to take over my life on Nov. 9, 1985, and I became born again. I received new life from God. Everything changed from that day. My destiny is secure in Christ. I am not afraid or doubtful of the future anymore. I have found the truth and the truth has made me free. I know that one day, my Saviour will return to take me home (heaven) with Him, but if He tarries, I will go and meet Him when my time on earth is done.
What are you waiting for? Go ahead right away and call on the Lord to save you. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Open your heart to Jesus and make Him Lord over your life. You will experience peace that surpasses understanding.
P.S.
One of the things that have helped is coming to the conclusion that the Bible is truly the Word of God and not just a religious pr historical document nor a theological textbook. What is written there applies to us and is relevant for us today. And it is the truth (John 17:17). The Psalmist came to this beautiful conclusion: "Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way." (Psalms 119:128).
I never argue or try to rationalize God's Word. I simply accept it. I believe it. I act on it. And every time I find out that the Word works.
