What was life like before you met Jesus?
As a child, I remember going to church every Sunday. I attended Sunday school, participated in youth programs, and had my first communion. I learned a lot about God but was missing the Gospel and a relationship with Jesus. I thought that my standing with God was based on my actions so I tried to earn his favor by “doing good.” When asked how confident I was that I would go to heaven, I said 75% because I thought I was mostly good.
How did you meet Jesus?
When I was 11, a camp counselor explained that by putting my faith in Jesus I could be 100% confident I would go to heaven — not because of my actions but because Jesus lived the perfect life, died on the cross, and conquered death for the sins of the world. Ephesians 1:7 says “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” I realized that even my best would never be enough as all have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but because of Jesus, my sins were forgiven.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
After being saved, I no longer felt the need to be perfect and always “doing good.” Verses like Ephesians 1:4 have helped me to grow confident in my identity as a beloved child of God. God used leaders and peers in my youth group to continually point me to Christ. A verse that has always stuck with me is 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says that God’s grace is sufficient for you for his power is made perfect in weakness. I know that my sin will never outweigh the abundance of grace has for me and my imperfect life is a platform for His name to be glorified.