I accepted Christ when I was four years old. I gave that it’s own line because you have to think about it for a second before you go on. Some people have a hard time believing it but that’s what happened. I still remember the huge auditorium with movie seats - I remember because Dad had to push the seat down so I could sit on it - that’s how little I was. It was kind of a bummer because at four-years-old I hated to stay in my seat but every-time I got up the seat folded up and I had to get help to sit back down again. Anyway, the traveling minister gave an alter call and unlike most four-year-olds I was listening to every word. I understood what he was saying, I remember identifying with the built-in sin nature of man that he described and I wanted to do what was right and come let Jesus guide me. The great thing about coming to christ at four is that you are still used to not being good enough or big enough to do things on your own, so it’s natural to surrender to a loving and trustworthy authority. I wanted to go up there and give my heart to Jesus like this guy was talking about. So I told my Dad but he thought I was too young and told me to stay in my seat. I remember feeling anxious about missing what was being offered up there and I prayed for God to change Dad’s mind. But then the minister gave another option - he said if you didn’t want to come forward you could just repeat this prayer inviting Jesus into your heart from your seat and you would receive him. So I said the prayer and I felt warmth and happiness come over me and I wanted to tell everyone right away. Do you know the Jesus story? You know how the whole thing works with the sacrifice of the OT sheep to get blood for atonement, and Jesus becoming the perfect lamb and our salvation through death and resurrection etc? Well I didn’t know any of that, I just knew Jesus was my heavenly father and he loved me more than anyone else did and was willing to take care of me and make up for my shortcomings. Can you see how that would be enough to win a child’s love and acceptance? So Dad was right, I was too young to understand - but Jesus took my heart anyway. Isn’t that neat? Our understanding doesn’t matter, it’s just who we believe and trust in and give our hearts to. And you know what I think is awesome? Although we are born into sin, God is our creator so as children our hearts are open to him. I see this in my son already, how his eyes light up and his face glows when we’re worshiping in song, and how even though there’s little for him to do he’s often content at our church prayer meetings. I can see him sensing the Holy Spirit in those settings and it brings him comfort and joy. Do you hear the “interaction” part of what I’m explaining here? The desire I had to go give myself to Jesus, the request I made that God would change my Dad’s heart, the tug of the spirt at my heart, the action of the prayer I prayed, the experience I had when God came in? The response of my son to the Holy Spirit, him sensing and receiving joy and comfort? It's called relationship and it's what following Christ is all about. But this is just the beginning of my story so drop some comments, hit the restrooms and get some popcorn but stay with me...
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