Before Jesus Changed My Life

I found Jesus around the age of 19 (now 22). About a year beforehand I began feeling to need to explore potential faith, but never acted upon it. I started to often get this empty feeling, as if all of my work towards my pursuit of my passions, education and athletic, were so meaningless. I felt like all the work in the world could no longer satisfy me, despite continuing to do more and more. I began to realize that even once the work would pay off, I no longer felt satisfaction with the goals I had once dreamt of. I would spend my days chasing meaningless goals and filling voids with sin (lust, greed for money, etc). It came to a point where I realized that this could not be all there is, and I kept getting this feeling as if I was being pulled to go explore Christianity.

How Jesus Changed My Life

When I got to Cornell College I attended a team Bible study in my first couple weeks there. We were reading Isaiah 53 that day, and having never been a believer I almost broke down with the sadness that I never had the gratitude for God that I was learning to have that day alone. As my faith started, I began reading as much as I could, just trying to build up knowledge and a source of information. I would say that contemplation of eternity and gratitude is what was most compelling in the Gospel to me. I wanted to show my thankfulness and love to Jesus and dedicate my life to Him. Attending our team studies, church, and some other communities started to be a huge part of how I spent my time. Eventually, I got into student leadership with FCA (no longer as I am done playing) to help lead our team Bible studies. Overall, I know that it was God's plans that put the people that helped pull me in right in my path, it was Him pulling on my heart and revealing the empty life I was living, and it was He who helped continue to open doors to communities of faith.

I now live with gratitude for the eternal life He offers us, and look to obey what Jesus has commanded of and taught to us. Trusting in the Gospel is both reassuring and comforting, as we have been blessed with the greatest gift; eternal life: John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand”. A passage I like a lot when discussing the Gospel is Paul’s commentary in 1 Corinthians 15, starting in verse 12. We know that Jesus raised from death showing his ability to conquer death. If He had not, then how will he raise us up? Paul continues with a discussion directed towards those who contradict this pivotal piece of the Gospel and states that if Jesus had not been raised, our faith is meaningless and we remain in our sin. However, we know the Gospel to be true, and thus full of hope. What really struck me in this passage from Paul was how I could reflect on the Gospel and realize the complete truth that was being presented to me in the text. Even more convicting was verse 17 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins”, which we know to be a false statement for numerous reasons, one being reflection on what Jesus has done to completely change our way of life. Through my journey, I have come to have full realization of the numerous things Jesus has done in my life, and have come to fully trust in the Gospel. He has convicted me to fight against my sins and old ways of life, and has shown me his presence repeatedly through response to my prayers, calming of my heart, forgiveness for my sins, and always pulling me closer to Him, even in moments I may stray.

My Life After Jesus Saved Me

First off, I am so much more joyous, not only is this life exponentially more meaningful, but there is a next. One big thing I love is how much more loving I am to others, and how that has grown my friendships. Communities of faith are often the only places young men can discuss real-life issues. I am also better equipped to love my superiors, the young men I coach (baseball), my mother and sisters, my girlfriend, and so on. In addition, I now have a way to fight sin and temptation, which leads to more meaningful pursuits in a day. One verse I love that helps me fight temptation is John 14:15 when Jesus says "If you love me, obey my commands". Going forward, I got a job coaching baseball at a college in Wisconsin, and want to be a man who points young men to Jesus. I want to show them what Jesus has done for me. I am so grateful for Him, and that He drew me in. I now want to dedicate every day to obeying his commands, being firm in my faith, and praying with gratitude for the eternal life His followers receive.