2.2 KiB
Profession of faith when 7, baptized when 13.
Truly saved when turned 19.
Explain - grew up in Christian home. Good kid. Only for "persona" to keep up.
High school - prideful, selfish. Basketball - entire focus in high school. Myself was focus.
Senior - shot 400 shots a day, great shape. Go running shirtless, attitude of invincibility.
Was not talented, dad and grandpa were. Success was due to working hard--but looking back, was not that successful.
Basketball was identity, worked-out hard. Trained to dunk, proud of that.
Why not saved at that time? Scripture for why I was not saved: 1 John 5:1-7
1 John 2:3-6 how we know Him--keep His commandments.
Romans 6:8-7 carnally-minded is death, separation from God, same as when Adam sinned. Carnal mind is enmity with God--opposite of agape love
I had carnal mind--on earthly things, myself. Christ was an add-on to my life--wanted to be associated with Christians, but not my focus.
Summer 2015 - built own basketball court, going on to walk-on at college. Dad took job in Springfield, wrecked my life, lost dream job, lost ability to HDC, couldn't play basketball, lost farm with court, lost friends.
February 2016 - got really sick. In bed for 2 months. Constant discomfort. Lost weight, physical muscle-mass. Everything built up was taken away. In this time, God was breaking stubborn, prideful heart. Remember being propped up against a wall, very weak. Still selfishly praying to be put out of misery--nothing to identify myself with. Everything I thought I was, was gone. Still prideful, but everything I had was not worth living for. Thinking, "live for Christ or not live at all". Still selfish, but God used that thinking to humble me before Him. Perspective completely changed, repented before the Lord about having lived myself. My life apart from Christ would amount to nothing. Nothing good apart from Christ.
1 Peter 1:24-25 all flesh is grass, the word endures. Wish I could say I'm a perfect Christian--but it is a constant struggle. Understand I'm living for Christ, but it is day-by-day decision to do it.
Praise the Lord and thank Him for His work in my life.
1 John 2:15-17 love not the world, not of the Father, He that does the will of God abides forever.