As a child, my life revolved around music, academics, family, and church. My parents encouraged me to play the piano and violin and to do well in school. Since I usually worked hard in these areas, I felt successful at life and thought of myself as a good person. But soon God would teach me that I was actually a very bad person who needed to be changed from the inside out.
On the outside, I was the perfect child. But on the inside, I was the enemy of God. To my parents and teachers I seemed like an obedient little girl who did her work and didn’t talk in class. But God knew that when my parents weren’t home, I disobeyed my parents and dishonored God. Instead of practicing piano like I had promised my parents, I would play with my sister and brother, watch TV, or have lustful daydreams. Then when my parents came back home, I would lie, saying that I had been working hard during the time they had been gone. Meanwhile, I was very proud of myself for getting good grades and for not getting into trouble.
These actions are examples of sins. Sins truly hurt God. My broken promises brought pain to God’s heart, because God never breaks His promises. My lustful thoughts brought pain to God’s heart, because God wants us to only think of what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and excellent. My lies brought pain to God’s heart, because God is truth and He never lies. And most of all, because I was not broken-hearted over these sins but was arrogant instead, God hated me for my pride. God hates sin so much that He sends people to suffer in hell forever because of their sins!
Thankfully, though, God provides a solution! When I was about 12 years old, I went to a church retreat. There I finally realized what a terrible, awful sinner I was, and I asked God to forgive me. And He did!!! From then on, my life began to change as God changed my attitude and thoughts. He pours out His love onto me, changing me from the inside out. But how can God suddenly become so loving if He hates my sin so much?
The reason that God can forgive all the sins I’ve committed is because of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who explains God and who is God. About 2000 years ago, Jesus became a Man, born miraculously to a virgin. Jesus lived a perfect life as a human being, performed miracles, and taught people about Himself. And even though Jesus is the all-powerful God, He allowed people to torture and kill him on the cross. While on the cross, God poured all His anger onto Jesus. Jesus Christ took God’s wrath away from me and onto Himself! Then, to prove that Jesus Christ really is God and to prove that God accepts Jesus Christ as my substitute, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead!
Now that I believe in Jesus Christ, all my sins are washed away, and I am a child of God. I still study hard and love music, but I use these things for God’s reputation instead of my own. Because I’ve realized God’s love for me through Jesus Christ, I fight sin and temptation. There is so much joy and peace in knowing that after I die, I will be eternally happy with God.
On the outside, I was the perfect child. But on the inside, I was the enemy of God. To my parents and teachers I seemed like an obedient little girl who did her work and didn’t talk in class. But God knew that when my parents weren’t home, I disobeyed my parents and dishonored God. Instead of practicing piano like I had promised my parents, I would play with my sister and brother, watch TV, or have lustful daydreams. Then when my parents came back home, I would lie, saying that I had been working hard during the time they had been gone. Meanwhile, I was very proud of myself for getting good grades and for not getting into trouble.
These actions are examples of sins. Sins truly hurt God. My broken promises brought pain to God’s heart, because God never breaks His promises. My lustful thoughts brought pain to God’s heart, because God wants us to only think of what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and excellent. My lies brought pain to God’s heart, because God is truth and He never lies. And most of all, because I was not broken-hearted over these sins but was arrogant instead, God hated me for my pride. God hates sin so much that He sends people to suffer in hell forever because of their sins!
Thankfully, though, God provides a solution! When I was about 12 years old, I went to a church retreat. There I finally realized what a terrible, awful sinner I was, and I asked God to forgive me. And He did!!! From then on, my life began to change as God changed my attitude and thoughts. He pours out His love onto me, changing me from the inside out. But how can God suddenly become so loving if He hates my sin so much?
The reason that God can forgive all the sins I’ve committed is because of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who explains God and who is God. About 2000 years ago, Jesus became a Man, born miraculously to a virgin. Jesus lived a perfect life as a human being, performed miracles, and taught people about Himself. And even though Jesus is the all-powerful God, He allowed people to torture and kill him on the cross. While on the cross, God poured all His anger onto Jesus. Jesus Christ took God’s wrath away from me and onto Himself! Then, to prove that Jesus Christ really is God and to prove that God accepts Jesus Christ as my substitute, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead!
Now that I believe in Jesus Christ, all my sins are washed away, and I am a child of God. I still study hard and love music, but I use these things for God’s reputation instead of my own. Because I’ve realized God’s love for me through Jesus Christ, I fight sin and temptation. There is so much joy and peace in knowing that after I die, I will be eternally happy with God.