Ambassadors for Jesus Christ

It is not only important for a follower of Christ to profess belief but to live what is declared. I profess that only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice are we able to have our sins washed away and do the work for Him who calls each of us to accomplish. I know His sacrifice and resurrection covers all sins of those who seek Him and accept Him as the only way back to live with our Heavenly Father. As with Paul, my sins are covered by the atonement of Christ, I found favor in the Lord, and was called by the Lord through the Great Commission, to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). 

I accepted the call of the Lord, in the Great Commission, the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior and have the blessing to go and teach His message, in word and deed. There is no greater message then the saving Grace of our Heavenly Father and the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. 

I believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Together they form the Godhead and reign and rule over the universe. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again. He overcame sin and death brought into this world by man (Adam). I believe the Bible is the Word of God and provides all instruction, direction and reproof man needs to understand God’s divine hand ruling over all of us and is infallible. It is God revealed!

I was raised my entire life being taught about the atonement of Jesus and I learned to believe that I was saved by His grace but only after all I could do (Grace+Works). Obedience was the focus of my relationship with my Savior. Because of this I was a pretty good kid, young adult and adult. I tried hard to please God by trying to do what was right in the eyes of God. Of course, I fell short and sinned and then repented, as I was taught. 

However, being saved after all you can do created a problem; when had I done enough work so that Grace would cover what was lacking? When had I tipped the scales of God’s justice and wrath, to now gain His mercy and Grace? I was in a habitual cycle of sinning, feeling unworthy of the atonement, seeing bad things happening in my life, attributing it to God’s punishment, being depressed because I was unworthy of God’s mercy, working hard to pull myself up (spiritually), feeling okay about my spiritual life, and then sinning again only to restart the cycle. I worked hard without ever getting closer to God because I felt unworthy, and honestly tired of trying. A complete since of hopelessness, not founded in scripture or the Gospel. 

It was during this time of “Grace Confusion”, my marriage failed and my relationship with my kids fell apart. Because I viewed “bad things happening” as God’s punishment I fell into a crisis of faith, and I separated myself from God. I did not even believe that there was any love in the world. Love was “the great lie”. How could I “work” so hard, only to have God’s snatch it away? I saw the love of my family, friends and God as a lie. I was completely alone, so I thought.

However, God revealed His great love to me one night, while walking along the beach. I was praying for God to reveal Himself (clearly in some since, I still believed or wanted to believe) questioning His existence and if He was real to take my pain away and do something to show His love once again. As I walked, someone (I believe a child) had written in the sand, “God Loves You!” I sat there on the beach and just cried. I knew He loved me, and I needed to accept His love and the fullness of the Grace of my Savior, Jesus (Grace+nothing). That night, I fully accepted Him and knew I was saved from my sins and began to completely understand the gift only He could give me. The impact of understanding assured salvation I feel every day of my life. Sins that I struggled with I no longer consume me, because I laid them at the feet of Jesus and He took the burden from me. The cycle was broken by Jesus and Him alone.  My Grace Confusion had come to an end! Faith now drove my obedience because of my extreme gratitude to a loving, merciful Heavenly Father. 

Soon after this life-changing event I met my beautiful bride, Kelly. On our first date, which lasted about six hours, we talked about God, His love and His plan for us. After three years of dating, I married the most wonderful, God loving woman and together, with Christ at the center of our marriage, we have grown closer to Jesus then I could have ever imaged in my life. We walk in ministry together, serving the Lord as we serve others.

While sitting in Church one day, I came to a realization of how the gift of the atonement was working in my life and why my relationship with God and Jesus had changed so much after understanding the fullness of Grace and grace’s relationship with works. I wrote the following:

When my obedience drove my faith and my obedience failed, so did my faith. Now that my faith drives my obedience - when my obedience fails, my faith in the Atonement of Christ grows stronger.

Six years after my life “fell apart” I was re-baptized in the Jordan River renewing my commitment to God and continue this wonderful journey with my beautiful bride and ministry partner, Kelly.

Until God calls me home!