Fishers of Men

Before God saved me and forgave me I was a wreched sinner, just like everybody else. And just like any other teenager my age I never thought about death. I thought I was invincible. I went to church occasionally but I was just going to see my friends and I wasn’t really trying to learn anything, (I thought I knew everything). Then I went to Super Wow in 2004, (a youth conference), when I was 15 and “got saved”, (or so I thought). When I came back to my church I got baptized, no one ever asked me any questions or tried to see if I really understood what it was that I was doing, (and of course I had no clue); I thought all I had to do was pray a prayer after someone and I was home free. I could do anything and everyhting and there wouldn’t be any consequences. But I was so wrong; when I started eighth grade I got into a pretty bad situation with a lot of different people, but I didn’t care. Because I knew where I was going in case anything I was doing would kill me (heaven), (or so I thought). Like I said when you’re fifteen, or sixteen years old you don’t think about death, I don’t know why you just don’t. but the choices I was making were pretty hard core and, with all jokes aside, in reality I really should be dead. But, I’m not going into any of the things I did because they are a part of my past, (and I am not proud of the way I was). Now don’t get me wrong, at this time of my life I honestly thought I was saved I had no clue what was in the bible or anything like that but, I thought I was saved. And you want to know why? Because one time at a youth conference I walked up to the front of the room and told some stranger that I wanted to be saved and I mean’t it at the time. But he took me into a little room had me sign a piece of paper, say a prayer after him and then walk back up to the front to show everyone  what I had done-not what god had done through me. It was a decision I had made in my heart. But a few years I learned a little, big something. My heart is deceitfully wicked and who could know it. When I was 18 or 19 I can’t remember which, I started attending a church in Statesboro. (Friendship Baptist Church ). for a while ( around six months) I really didn’t get anything out of it at 1st. I’ve since learned that it was because God had hardened my heart. But anyway, I came into this church with 1 tattoo, my tongue pierced, and still living a sin filled life. and while attending the church I got another tattoo as well as getting my labret pierced (bottom lip in the middle). Honestly didn’t think any thing of it. God slowly started to soften my heart. After six months of being around real Christian people, and not ones that just wanted to use the title; I got my eyes opened by God alone to how real and serious my sinful life was, I was sitting in my room reading and just started to cry. At first I didn’t know why. But a little while after I understood. I felt such a weight being lifted from my shoulders, after repenting from my sin. (repent = a sincere sorrow for and renunciation of sin, and a decision to forsake it and to joyfully follow Christ.) I knew I was saved. In my youth group I was taught by God through my youth pastor (Josh) that the only way to be saved was to repent by faith and believe the gospel. (gospel= good news). At first I had a lot of questions because I had never heard of this before but after awhile I understood. And I started to get a lot more out of church. I grew more and more in my faith, and 2 months later I was baptized. (march 11,2007). It took 2 months because they wanted to make sure I  thoroughally  knew what I was doing. They had me read 1^st john many, many times and talked with me constantly. I am proud to say that its been almost 4 months since I was saved, by grace alone, and not by anything I could have done. And I am a new person not just spiritually but mentally and physically as well. I am no longer illiterate in the bible, (now don’t get me wrong I still don’t understand a lot of what I read.) but I know 100x’s more than I knew before. I also can name almost every book in the bible. But I also don’t think the way I did before. I see the world as it really is, (a spiritually dead and hell bound world). I say physically different because I have since taken out my labret piercing and no longer do the things I once did. I have changed so much and am so thankful to god for putting the people in my life that he has put there. They have helped me so much more than they will ever know. At times when I hit rock bottom and considered killing my self they were there even though they didn’t know my intentions. And when I was on cloud nine they were there too. I thank god so much for my Christian brothers and sisters,who without God working in these saints, and without God being in thier lives, at the time i struggled thier advice would have been worthless. And I want to thank you for reading my testimony. Please add yours as well under the comments. I would really like to see how much Christ has changed your life. God bless you all and I will keep you in my prayers.