Want to Know God?

Capshaw Baptist Church, Harvest

Growing up in rural north Alabama, my parents involved me in a local Baptist church from an early age. Despite the teaching of faithful pastors, I associated peace with God with my religious efforts. Around the age of 12 I made my pilgrimage down the aisle to pray the “sinner’s prayer” and sign up for the next round of baptisms. I distinctly remember rising out of the baptismal waters and thinking to myself, “Now everything is OK, I am saved.”

For the next several years I continued to attend church, live by the golden rule, occasionally pray and less frequently read my Bible. As a freshman in college I arrived early for class and found myself surfing for music. It was then that I heard the voice of a pastor I later learned was Charles Stanley. He was teaching on what it meant to truly know God from 2 Corinthians 5:21, where Paul writes, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” I was embarrassed that I was listening to a preacher, so I turned the volume down, but I could not turn the station. 

Throughout the sermon Stanley placed emphasis on what Christ did on the cross to secure our salvation rather than on any work we accomplish. I had always placed the emphasis on my works rather than the work of Christ, and frankly my life hadn’t changed.

I was haunted by this passage of Scripture for a number of days until I finally sat down on my bed and simply acknowledged that my works could not save me. I realized I was a sinner and that Christ and His work alone could bring me peace with God. I trusted Jesus and His work alone that night. 

In the coming days my life radically changed. I began a journey of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Have you turned your back on your good works and simply trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, claim the promise of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Trust Christ today.