A single Bible verse won me over to Christianity. I was in junior high at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student retreat when my father read a passage out of the book of Acts. He explained that the Apostle Paul was preaching in the cities of Lystra and Derbe, teaching them about Jesus, when the crowd turned on him, stoned him, and left him outside the city thinking he was dead. Then my dear old dad read Acts 14:20, which says, “But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.”
I was blown away. Comic book heroes, Greek warriors, and professional athletes paled in comparison to the heroics of the Apostle Paul. How could a person believed to be dead, get up, and walk back into the city where the people had just tried to kill him? Where did he get his strength? What did he have to say that was so important? Would he continue preaching? What was his purpose? Clearly, Paul wasn’t the sort of drone-like character I had come to associate with the word “Christian.” From that moment on, I knew I had to learn more about the Bible, and about what this guy Paul had to say.
Though I had prayed the sinner’s prayer as a young girl, it wasn’t until the weeks following that retreat when I really considered myself a Christian and decided to get serious about my faith. Since then, my journey in learning more about the Bible and committing my life to Christ has been a process mixed with joy, hardship, and often relief. Before becoming a Christian my mind was always focused on achieving my own glory, accomplishing goals, and getting ahead in life. My busy lifestyle of pursuing lofty accolades often left me feeling exhausted and unfulfilled. Being a Christian has given me relief from constant striving. I know I can rest in God’s plan for my life, and that I don’t need to rely on my own strength. Best of all, knowing Christ has given me eternal security.
Being a Christian isn’t always easy. I am constantly examining my motives and trying to make sense of what is happening in my life, and in the lives of people I care about. The Bible explains that being a Christian will not disqualify me from failure, persecution or heartache. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The Bible continues to be the most interesting book that I have ever encountered. Seventeen years after deciding to get serious about my faith, I am still inspired by the zeal and teachings of the Apostle Paul. Deciding to become a Christian is the best decision I have ever made.
Sources: All Bible verses are from the NIV Bible