Jake's Testimony

    I was born in christian family and have been in Bartley all my life. I learnt abut God through Sunday School and my parents since young. You could say that I knew every story told in the bible from Adam and Eve to the journeys of Paul. But at that time I didn't experience God, I just knew he was there.
    It was not until Secondary two that I experience God in a new way. It was a Christian Fellowship Camp that I attended with the theme 'More than Conquerors'. On the last lecture, the speaker spoke about Jesus and how he died on the cross. It was the most repeated story I have ever heard but this time each nail on his hands meant a lot to me. I could feel his pain, his love, and his grace on the cross. And as I sang the songs, I broke down in tears, not of sadness, not of joy but because he loved me. He made me see how sinful man was and how unworthy we were to even be created. "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9. How much more did the word 'grace' meant to me even until today as I worship and praise him!
    What Jesus did on the cross was to pay for our sins so that we can have eternal life in heaven. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. God is just by nature. What we did wrong he has to punish us and that is death. "But God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Jesus came to take all the punishment on himself so that we can once more be reconciled with God and live with him eternally in heaven. And there are no strings attached to this promise accept to believe. Praise the Lord!
    Since then I have been talking to God in a different way, as a friend and not as an almighty King. (although he is one but his love for man is too great) Decisions in my life revolve around God, but there is always the 'self' that wants to take charge. It was not until I entered the army that I drew closer to God. As you know, the army is a 'little hell' in its own right. It is there that you face people that hate you for no reason, punish you for little things you didn't do and where foul language is a native. Having friends who were anti-christian doctrines didn't help either.
    There was this period of time when these friends questioned me day and night about the validity of Christianity. Questions like, How do you know the bible is true? The universe was created by the Big Bang and not by God. Jesus Chrsit didn't ressurected, it was all a hoax. (These are mostly answered in my FAQs). These are some of the common questions you would even ask. I answered most of them through the Holy Spirit that helped me. But they were not satisfied with the answers. It was them that I started questioning them about their religion and I easily dumbfounded them. I wasn't proud that I got back at them but sad because they couldn't see and hear what I was telling them. They were too busy trying to deny and question me that they didn't understand the essence of what I was telling them. how sad!
    God pulled me through this difficult time and although I didn't manage to convince my friends, I am still good friends with them. "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." James 1:2. God helped me experience joy as I faced the questionings of my friends and that is one important lesson I learnt when I face trials. It also tells me that I am a growing christian and not one that the devil doesn't even bother.
    Being a christian is so exciting because God doesn't reveal His will in your life all in a go but he does it in His time. Sometimes it conflicts your 'self' and surprises you but it always turns out right if you trust in him. And as I head for the US this coming august to study, I want to get baptise as an act of obedience as well as a public declaration to the spiritual and secular world that I belong to God and will dedicate my life to his will and work. Praise the Lord for his grace!

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