Today is Easter Sunday, and it marks a special day to me. As I mentioned in my previous post, eight years go on Easter Sunday, I took the leap of faith to proclaim that He is my Lord and my Saviour, by going through water baptism. Water baptism is a step where by christians like me take, as a promise and a public declaration of saying that I would live my life as a servant for the God I love. Thus today, I want to share with you my very own Easter story. How everything led to where I am today.
I was 14 when I visited my cousin at his church's youth service at Redhill on a Saturday afternoon. Just a little background, I grew up attending my family Church every Sunday, which my parents still attend today. Every friend or school mate that knew me knew that I was a 'Christian'. But there was nothing more than that.
Going to church every Sunday mornings didn't mean more than just church to me then. I didn't have a personal relationship with God, I had no interest in reading the Bible, the word of God. I didn't pray, and I didn't do what every other Christian you (may) know do. The only times I ever remembered praying were the night or minutes before every test or exam paper I was going to take, and would only mutter the words: 'to give me the knowledge and wisdom to understand and answer the questions given'. -- this was a phrase my aunt taught me to pray since I was young.
However, when I stepped into my cousin's Church, I felt different. There was a different atmosphere than that of what I was used to. I can't put it to words, but in my heart I knew that there was more to it. The people there were warm and friendly, and I quickly made friends with a handful of them. I talked to my new friends, and asked them questions to why they were so passionate about the same God we know. How their faces lit up when they talked about God and why they worship and adore Him so much more than I do intrigued me. They were so enthusiastic, so passionate about the word of God, the good news that He has given. It was something I've never experienced before.
Talking to them and asking all these questions about their faith and enthusiasm about God helped me understand and know this God better.
Every week at Sunday School, there will be teachers who will tell us more about God, by reading Bible Stories to us. I heard the Bible stories over and over for years that I could even memorise them at the back of my hand, but I've never really thought about what the stories actually mean.
But now I understand. How His love for me never waivers, how it doesn't depend on what I do to get His love, to get Him to love me. But just being who I really am before Him. How despite my selfishness and ignorance towards Him does not change the way He loves me truly amazed me.
This God put His love on the line for me (and you) by offering His son, His only son, Jesus, in sacrificial death. When we were all of no use to Him (Romans 5:8). This love that He has given to me, and to everyone, has made me more attracted to reading His good news. His message. His love letter. This is what has changed me. “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16,17. This love has made me who I am today. And I pray and hope with all my heart that one day, you will experience it too. I hope that this Easter has been great and meaningful to you, too.