My Testimony

My Testimony

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" - I Peter 3:15 KJV

     I've been attending church since before I was born! ;) We are faithful to every church service and activity taking place there. By the age of seven, several of my friends had made professions of faith and then were baptized. I didn't want to be left out, so every service during invitation I'd beg mom to let me go down and "get saved". After several services of my mom waiting to see if I was sincere, we walked down and the pastor prayed over me and told me I was saved. I was baptized a few weeks later. We left that church because of a few differences of beliefs/standards and after months of looking, we found and joined our current church the week before I turned eight. 

 Everyone that knew me always told me "You're such a good girl! I can tell you know Jesus." (Oh, if they only knew me well! Haha!) 

  I had been baptized...

  My mom told people that I had been saved - I told people I had been saved...

  I was a "good girl"...

  But there was no peace.

 I had to be saved though, right? I thought I knew Jesus... 

I struggled off and on for several years about whether or not I was saved. During a Sunday morning service when I was about twelve, my Pastor preached a sermon on Hell. I had never been so convicted over my sin and knowing where I was going... But I tried shrugging off the conviction with these thoughts: "I have to be saved cause I'm good... I've been baptized! I believe in Jesus..." 

  A few days after that sermon was preached, I was cleaning my room. The Lord was still dealing with my heart about my salvation and lemme say this - not much cleaning was getting done!! 

I realized I wasn't trusting in Jesus to save me - I was trusting in myself. My goodness could NEVER get me to heaven. My baptism could NEVER get me to heaven... 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through him." -  Romans 5:8-9 KJV

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6 KJV

    It's through Jesus' blood and His sacrifice for my sins on Calvary alone that will get me to heaven! I knelt beside my bed and begged God to forgive my prideful, sinful self and asked Him to become Lord over my life. It took a little while to sink in, but I realized the burden had been lifted and KNEW I was saved! Praise God that He gives second chances to be saved! I'm so thankful I KNOW where I'm going and that He paid the sin debt for me. 

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things , as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" - I Peter 1:18-19 KJV

Do you know Jesus? 

Hell's too hot, and eternity way too long for you not to be sure. Please talk to me if you have any questions about salvation or if you're struggling with knowing - I've been in that place and by God's grace, I can hopefully give you some help.