HOW I CAME TO KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD

As I grew up I had a limited view of God. I had heard that there was a heaven and a hell and that God judges everyone according to their deeds. I did my share of wrongs, which made me fear hell. God was out there somewhere and I had some questions for him like, "Who are you God? Why am I here? What do you want from me? What must I do to avoid hell? Can I know for sure that I'm going to heaven?" I had to know the answers to these questions so I began my search for God. I was 19 when I met someone who told me that the answers to my questions were in the Bible and gave me a New Testament to read. I hated reading but my desire to know the answers pushed me to keep reading. I read the four Gospels at my own pace without any pressure and had an amazing life changing experience with God. This story explains what God revealed to me and what happened to me.

I discovered that what God really desires from people is their love demonstrated by trust and obedience to God and love for one another. He expressed it in his commandments to "Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength" and "Love others as you do yourself". I discovered that God does not desire to judge anyone however because he is Holy he must pronounce judgement on what he considers evil. God would rather have everyone repent of all evil and desire to do what is right in his sight so that he can forgive them. Those are the people that God chooses to spend eternity with him in paradise.

In the Gospels, it explains how the creator of this world was miraculously born into humanity two thousand years ago as Jesus of Nazareth. He lived among humanity to share God’s love and message of forgiveness and eternal life. This seemed to me like an amazing way for God to directly deliver his message and interact with humanity that he created.

I read how Jesus cared for people, healed people, set people free from demons and did miracles to demonstrate God’s love and prove that he was who he claimed to be - God in human form.

I read the stories that Jesus shared about the kingdom of God and heaven and what it was like to be a part of it. Jesus told people that they must be humble and receive God’s kingdom with faith (trust) like a small child.

I learned about Jesus offer of forgiveness, acceptance and eternal life - for people who repent of all evil (sin). Repentance is an attitude to not sin any more but to please God rather than pleasing ourselves. We can repent and be forgiven or die in our sins and face judgment. The sins people must stop and avoid are listed in the New Testament:
1) Sexual immorality (sex with someone outside of marriage, same sex partners, and sex with animals), adultery, prostitution, homosexual acts (unnatural sex, sodomy), impurity (lust and pornography), obscenity, promiscuity, coarse joking;
2) Witchcraft and occult practices (consulting mediums or fortune tellers, obtaining knowledge or use of supernatural powers from sources other than God as written in the Bible), idolatry (praying to or trusting in other gods or objects for good fortune);
3) Dishonesty, lying, deceit, hypocrisy, stealing;
4) Selfishness, greed (not helping others in need), always disagreeing, pride (exalting self), drunkenness (any drug use causing irresponsible behavior);
5) Hatred, jealousy, envy, gossip and condemning or criticizing others, causing strife, not forgiving others, fits of rage, murder, and suicide.
The bible says that people who continue to live like this cannot inherit God’s kingdom but must face judgment and a tormenting lake of fire. If you don't care then it doesn't matter however if you do care then you can prevent it by repenting of all sin.

I read about Jesus life without sin and how he gave his body and blood as a sacrificial payment for humanity’s sin by being whipped then nailed on a cross to die. On the third day later Jesus rose from his grave conquering death. This demonstrated God’s love, mercy and kindness towards humanity by taking upon himself, the judgment for people's sin so that forgiveness could be offered.

I read that after Jesus resurrection, he ascended into heaven then gave God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) to be a helper, guide, teacher and friend to people who wholeheartedly lived for him. Jesus also asked people to be baptized in water as a declaration of their commitment to him as their Lord and King.

By the time I’d finished reading the four Gospels, I was convinced that Jesus could be trusted and his offer was worth pursuing so I made a commitment to repent of all sin, believe in, trust in and wholeheartedly live my life for Jesus as my Lord and King. Soon afterward, I noticed that I was changing on the inside. I felt an overwhelming love, joy and peace flooding into my soul from God, which was intense for several months. I could not help but thank God for his incredible love, and love him in return. I desired to be, and was baptized in water. I realized I was reborn in my spirit and that I had received the Holy Spirit from God as my helper, guide, teacher and friend, just as Jesus had promised. God was now living within me through the Holy Spirit, and I knew in my heart that God had forgiven me, accepted me, and that I was adoped as his child and secure in him. The Holy Spirit continued to teach me about Jesus and my Heavenly Father as I continued to read the Bible and meditate on God. This began my relationship with God, which has continued for more than 30 years now. I still love him and sense his love for me as I focus on God or worship him. God has continually helped me and brought healing and freedom into my life as well as others that I’ve prayed for. Millions of other people around the world have also experienced God after receiving the Holy Spirit when they made a commitment to repent of all sin, believe in, trust in and wholeheartedly live their lives for Jesus as their Lord and King.

I encourage you to read all four Gospels in a Bible for yourself and ask God to reveal himself to you. You can buy an modern english NIV or TNIV Bible at most bookstores for less than $20. As you seek God with an open heart, you will find him in Jesus, and begin to experience God for yourself as you believe in, trust in, and follow what Jesus says.