Someone suggested that he come visit with me, and he did. Over time, I shared the good news of Jesus with him. We talked about the God who made him and loved him. We talked about what a mess his life was … right after we talked about how I had made a mess of my life. I shared the amazing story of God’s own Son coming to live among us. I told of the sinless Savior who died for our sins. We talked about the relationship with Jesus that brings us into the family of God.
I shared the call of Jesus to come and die with him, to share in his death and resurrection. But he was not ready. He spent almost one year processing the good news of Jesus. He had to realize he could not make his life work on his own. He began to watch his own family try to live out their faith. He started dating a Christian woman. He visited worship often.
Then one night it all clicked. I wish I could tell you it was what he heard me say, but I think it just all finally made sense. He decided to give his life to Jesus in baptism. We got ready, and then he wouldn’t go in the water. He could not go through with it. After about one hour, we got to the root of the problem. He just could not accept the fact that God could forgive someone who had messed up as much as he had. So I shared my story, his dad shared his story, a family friend shared his. We prayed together. I could see that he had to decide if this whole Jesus story was just too good to be true.
And that was when I knew he was about to get it. That is why it is good news … and it is true. It does not matter what you have done, or how bad you have been. No one is good enough to save themselves anyway. So Jesus did it for us.
And this young man did get it, we did baptize him, and he is my brother. Thanks to Jesus.
If you are one of those who thinks the Jesus story is too good to be true, visit www.hopeforlife.com. Or write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.
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