I grew up going to church. I went through three years of Confirmation classes. During my Junior and Senior years of high school, I was part of a youth group that went to various churches and led worship using folk songs, guitars, and “love and peace” messages.
I believed in Jesus. I believed He died on the cross because of the sins of the world. But I thought that just meant sin in general. I didn’t know I needed to trust Him as the One who died because of MY sin. I still thought I needed to earn my way to heaven. I had to do good deeds and avoid bad stuff, in the hope that at the end of my life the good would outweigh the bad. Going to heaven or hell was solely dependent on me and my efforts.
It was a worrisome way to think. What if, when I died, I hadn’t done enough? I would end up in Hell! In my mind, there was no way to be sure, so I just did my best to be “good” in the hopes that God would be pleased.
While the youth group I was in backed up part of our “messages” with a Scripture or two that we found in a concordance under “love” or “peace”, I had never really read the Bible. I knew a few of the famous stories from Sunday school, like how David killed the giant, Zaccheus climbed the tree, and Baby Jesus slept in the manger, but it was just a book of stories about God, not a guide for finding a relationship with Jesus.
It took the witness of a couple who not only believed in Jesus, but who had a living relationship with Him before I realized He died on the cross for MY sins, not just sin in general. This couple believed the Bible was the living word of God, shared with us so we could trust that Jesus paid their way, my way, and your way to Heaven. Our own good deeds are never going to be enough, but Jesus’ death is!
God’s greatest desire is for everyone to be with Him for eternity, so He made it simple: Believe that Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins. There are days, even now, when I need a reminder that it is God’s gift. (Ephesians 2:8-10) The life that I live after that is my gift to Him.
Be encouraged!
©2026 Pamela D. Williams