Dear Friend, 

You may have noticed a change. I’m attending church now and identifying myself as a Christian. Let me tell you why.

 I’ve believed in God’s existence since I was 6 years old and was raised by parents who professed faith in Jesus. This faith I had began to wane as a teenager, as I realized I could not be the good “Christian” I thought God expected me to be, so I called it quits. My freshman year of high school I mocked God publicly and disassociated myself from the label of “Christian”, yet I drove to my first day of senior year joyfully listening to a sermon by John MacArthur. What changed? I came to a realization that Jesus of Nazareth in the Bible did not just live 2,000 years ago, but is actually alive today. I met a person, but this person was not like anyone else I’ve met. His words cut deeply. His behavior showed strength and goodwill. Unlike before, the things He said mysteriously began making sense. The death of this man described in the Gospels made me think that perhaps God does know something about the sorrows of life. I read an apologetics book by Mr. Lee Strobel, and found that the Christian’s belief about Jesus’ resurrection was grounded in reasonableness. But this wasn’t enough for me, nor do I now think that would be enough persuasion for anyone else. The evidence presented, whether prophecy, accuracy of manuscripts, or the Apostle’s testimony post resurrection, were helpful materials for building my faith, but they were and are not the foundation upon which I can call myself a Christian. It is the story itself, and an awareness of a living person. This was a supernatural occurrence, an awareness and conviction that somehow came upon me, resulting in faith. I now understand this to be God’s merciful work by His Spirit, convicting the heart. Sinners hear the news of Christ by the Word (scripture), yet the Spirit confirms within them that what they hear is true and living. It was like a glimmer of light reached me and I was quickened to pursue more of it. To put it simply, Nathaniel’s “kingdom” was invaded by the kingdom of God. Upon the awareness of His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ became to me the ultimate human being, the one who knows what’s really going on, and the way to life everlasting. How can I believe in those preposterous Old Testament stories? If the miracle of the resurrection occurred, then the authority of Christ is sealed, and His confirmation of the Old Testament as history is trustworthy. I can expand on that another time. Right now, my heart is to tell you that I’ve encountered a person, and I want you to encounter Him too. He said if you seek Him you will find Him, for He “desires all people to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” For by this man, Paul says, “all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish Rabbi who called Himself, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” was either delusional or God incarnate, and upon encountering Him by His Words, I’ve come to believe the latter.

Friend, my hope is that you will too.