I used to think that I could find favor with God by going to church and reading the Bible. Many times I tried to live a good life, but eventually I would fail and not live up to my expectations.  I wanted to do good, but was not able to be consistent.  I could not change the person I was, although I really tried.

One night a visiting speaker spoke on the crucifixion. I was really amazed that Christ loved me enough to die for me. That night in prayer I invited Christ to come into my life. I was full of turmoil. He replaced that turmoil with His peace. It was as if I had been carrying a heavy load on my back and Christ released me.  He made me feel clean on the inside for the first time.

I was always lying and trying to deceive others. Jesus Christ gave me a desire for honesty and to speak the truth.  Little by little, He began to change my life. He gave me a genuine concern for others that I had never known before. He replaced my anger with His peace. This is an inner peace which is not dependent upon outward circumstances. It is dependent upon my relationship with Christ.

Christ gave me a love for people that I never had before. I always wanted to take advantage of other people, but He replaced that with a genuine love and concern. I have a genuine love for others which I can not develop in my own efforts. Now I really want to help people.

As I continued on, I began to study the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I knew that Christianity stood or fell on this event. If I could prove the resurrection of Christ beyond a doubt, then I could truly follow Him.  As I investigated all the evidence for the resurrection, I became totally convinced that Christ was who He claimed to be - the Son of God - and God Himself. Now I could trust Him totally.

Christ began to make changes in me that I could never make. I could not change myself, no matter how hard I tried. Christ changed, and is continuing to change me, from the inside out.  He changed my attitudes, which resulted in a change in my actions.

Pascal, the great French physicist and philosopher said "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be satisfied by any created being, but only by God, the Creator, made known by His Son, Jesus Christ."  Christ filled the vacuum in my life.

All my problems did not vanish immediately. I still had to make many difficult decisions. I had to face each day and the uncertainties which came about.  But over time, He changed me and the person I was. Christ has given me the life He promises in John 10:10b  "I am come that they might have life and have it abundantly."