Andrea Taylor
Every Sunday, my parents brushed curls and tied bows for four girls and hustled us into the family car to attend our local church. We loved it! We earned prizes for memorizing Bible verses and sang about how much Jesus loves us. I loved Him, too, and tried the best I could to please Him. That wasn’t so easy for a strong willed little girl with three sisters. Sometimes I laugh when I think of the things that I thought I should do so I would be worthy of God’s love and so I could go to heaven. I had great intentions each morning, but by the end of every day I was trying to make up for some form of disobedience or unkindness.
When I was nine, God helped me understand the meaning of Bible verses that I had heard and read as long as I could remember. I remember the distinct feeling that it was like a light turning on in the dark. I already knew I wasn’t perfect but at that time I realized that the punishment for my sin is death and separation from God and I couldn’t do ANYTHING to make up for even the smallest wrong. I then understood that the reason Jesus died on the cross was to pay that price for my sin and that He rose again so I could live WITH HIM forever. I knew that was what I really wanted but it wasn’t automatic. I had to make a decision. I talked to Jesus and asked him to forgive me and I placed all my trust in HIm.
No, I am still not perfect and life has not been perfect. The strong willed little girl grew into a strong willed woman that has learned the hard way that God allows me to feel earthly consequences when I decide to follow my way instead of His way. Although I still desire to obey God, it is not because I think my relationship with Him depends on my actions. I now want to obey Him because He is my Savior, and I love Him, and I am so grateful that He died on the cross and rose again to save my life eternally. The best part of my story is that it is a story with no ending. I am His forever because of who He is and what He did.
Posted in I Grew Up in Church, I Was a "Good Person" ,
