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We can’t live for ever.

My Youth—Growing up a Catholic

As a child I grew up a Catholic. I attended a Catholic School, was baptized, and later confirmed in a Catholic Church. Through my Catholic upbringing, I was also required to attend a Catholic Church and yes, I even became an Altar Boy.

“I remember playing church as I was growing up on the front porch.”

“But to all who have received Him—those who believe in His name—He has given the right to become God's children” (John 1:12, NET Bible).

The High School Years

I began rebelling at a young age, which gave my parents fits. There were nights that I came home not in the best of shape, if you know what I mean. My self-esteem was shot. I could not comprehend life and surely did not know what was in store for me. I experienced more downs during that period than ups.

“I was looking for answers in all the wrong places. I was a typical immature child, searching for answers.”

I knew that God created the world. I had also read in the Bible that sin entered the world through the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. The Bible talks a lot about sin—from front to back.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

So, what is Sin?

Disobeying, Lying, Stealing, and Killing are all sins, and so is wanting someone else’s stuff (that’s Coveting). You ever do that? Sure, we all have and still do. The 10 Commandments talk about these sins and mention 5 others which stand in the way of our quest to obey and honor God. But obedience alone is not quite enough.

Do you think we can all stop sinning? It’s pretty hard, but God wants us to do our best.

God has a Son (Jesus). You have heard of Him … right?

God sent Jesus to this earth through Mary, His mother, so He could save us from our sin.

He knew you and I could not stop sinning. So, while Jesus lived on this earth as God’s son (yet in human form), He taught people God’s messages about how to live and do good and honor His Father in heaven, At the same time it was in God’s plan for all of us to be offered salvation from our sin through Jesus dying on the cross. His dying was God’s sacrifice for our sin.

So how can this help You and Me?

1. Accept and understand that Jesus died for your sins and thank Him for that.

2. Pray and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and help you to not commit them anymore.

3. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior and ask Him to be part of your life.

4. When you have trusted in Jesus to save you, you now have a relationship with the Creator of this earth. You have been Born Again.

5. There is a 3rd person in the Godhead. We have talked about his Son Jesus, but he also has a Spirit. When you are saved, the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps you live rightly and helps with your relationship with Jesus. You see, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is all one and they all have a unique role and purpose.

6. The next thing God wants is for you to be baptized. This is the way you can show everyone that you now have a relationship with God.

7. Finally, start getting involved in a Bible-believing church, where God will continue to teach and show you many new things.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV).

Our accomplishments in a World without God mean absolutely nothing.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

This isn't a game. You’re not only gambling with your life, but also your eternity. This is serious stuff.  

God will Never Leave Your Side

Through all my earthly successes, I never had joy. You see, you can be rich or poor, but without God you still have nothing. I had so many ups and downs, I felt like I was on a roller coaster. My wife and I had three children and none of them attended church. I was not the greatest father, keeping my children out of church at their age … Yep, that was me.

I knew that if I did not have a relationship with God, I was in big trouble. I also knew that my life up to that point really did not have a purpose.

“Come on … a life built around playing and partying all the time. Where was my head? But God was waiting on me.”

What Joy He has Given Me

God continued to work on me and eventually both my wife and I re-dedicated ourselves to God and serving His Kingdom. Remember, it is His Kingdom … not ours. Over the years, God has brought us great joy as our lives have been totally changed.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We try to serve Him as much as we can, and we pray every day for the desire to serve Him more. God knows the outcome of each and every life on this earth. He has given us a choice. We are happy that He did not give up on us. We still have to draw closer to Him, but he provides us with the resources to do so. Today, we are a different family. I am teaching and serving God in the church. My son is a Pastor now. Both my daughters are saved. We know there is a lot of work still to do in our lives. We wasted many years that we cannot get back. I know today not to let my guard down.

Wake Up

Please wake up today and don’t waste your life on meaningless things that you think provide satisfaction. Things of this world are the Devil’s way of diverting your attention from God. God loves you and wants a relationship with you, but first you must allow it.

“When you accept Jesus, you know you’re going to Heaven and you no longer have to be afraid of eternity.”

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