Pastor Blogs - A Testimony of God's Grace

Lucas Maupin Testimony
 
Growing up, I had heard about God, but I never understood who he really was (Rom 1:20). I thought that as long as I was a “good person” to others then I could go to heaven when I died. Throughout my life, I was a “child of wrath” and indulged in the cravings of my sinful nature (Ephesians 2:3). In middle school, I experienced hardship from others who sinned against me and because of that had low-self esteem. I became so frustrated with circumstances in my life that I eventually denied God’s existence.

Romans 2:5 described my life. The verse reads, “But because of your stubborn heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed”. I was depressed with my life and couldn’t find a purpose for my own existence. Eventually I hit rock bottom and felt as if I could never escape the pain.

But then, by just a friendly invitation, I attended church for the first time in my life. It was then that God opened my eyes to the Truth of His Word. He dissolved my hardened heart. The Holy Spirit made me realize that I wasn’t the “good person” I thought I was. Romans 3:10-12 says, “no one is righteous, not even one”. Proverbs 20:9 says, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin’?” I learned that because of Adam’s sin in the Garden, everyone is born sinful, and because God is so holy, I can’t stand before Him with even a speck of sin. There isn’t anything that I can do in my own strength that can save me from God’s punishment for my sins. I need a Savior.

I had been told my life by many people that I needed Jesus to save me, but I never understood what from. The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to finally show me. I learned that Christ, who is God, humbled himself and took upon a human body and lived a life without sin. He was tempted in every way that mankind is but never sinned. On the cross he took all the punishment I deserve for sin. His death on the cross satisfied the just wrath of God; forgiving all of my sins: past, present and future. :

Since I have come to know Christ my perspective on life has changed. Because of Christ I am a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). My old sinful self has passed away and now I do my best to live a life pleasing to God. I know I’ll never be perfect in this life, but with each passing day is a day where I can grow and by the Spirit, and I can better resemble the example set by Christ.

I’m no longer depressed. Christ said in John 16:33, “…in the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world”. No matter what happens in my life I know that God is in control. I now have a purpose in life: Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I come here this morning to be baptized. I’m not doing because it will make me any more acceptable to God because it won’t; I am acceptable to God because of His grace through my faith in Jesus Christ. No, I come here to show this congregation and most importantly, my own family, the change that Christ has made in my life.