BAPTISM 2022 - FROM DEATH TO LIFE!
3I was born in 1974 on the East Coast of Canada. Soon after birth, I headed to Edmonton, Alberta for a number of years, before coming down to settle here in Calgary.
I came from a loving home, having a great relationship with both of my parents and my younger sister. I was baptised as a baby in the Lutheran Church with a weekly ritual of attending Sunday School, even participating in the Choir. Of course I knew OF Jesus, but I admit that I never felt any real connection to Him.
I had no idea what the Gospel really was, was never encouraged to open the Bible, and did not have a clue what it meant to be “Saved”. I came away from the Church believing that just being a “good” person, and following the TODO list of 10 Commandments (as best as I could), would be “enough” for Jesus.
When I stopped going to Church, I found myself building up the wall brick by brick between myself and God which lasted around 15 years. For a while, I was happy to have my “freedom” back. I could sleep in, meet with friends, or watch TV. I would regularly make a lot of decisions based around whatever peer group I was with; just trying to please everyone else around me. What was good for Erik?
Throughout University, my relationship with Jesus became even more strained - my studies, work, exams and friends totally engulfed me leaving me no time to tear down that wall back to God. Even though I tried to always “be good”, I lived like a Sinner.
As soon as I was married and my kids were born, I found myself stricken with a LOT of angst. About where I was in my career, about my own new family. This led me to lose my temper constantly over trivial things with my wife and kids, who usually got the worst of me.
Throughout this time, no matter the life decision I faced, I never once thought to consult with God. I rarely prayed, and despite all my upbringing, I was very sceptical that Jesus or Heaven was even real.
Even though I was surrounded by a lot of people who loved me, I felt like something was really missing.
To be honest, I’m not 100% sure when I found my way back to Jesus. It could have been when my wife faced and survived a battle with Cancer. It could have been when I had a series of trips to the emergency room with nose bleeds. I’m not sure.
What I do know is that for the first time in my life that I can remember, the Holy Spirit guided me to opening the Bible. If these writings have survived for more than 2 thousand years, then there MUST be something to them!
What I do know is that since I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, and welcomed him back into my life, I’ve been learning how to see things differently with the help and grace of God.
Since I began my walk with Jesus, He’s really helped me to stay calm and not get so upset over things. I’ve been able to be a better son to my parents, a loving husband to my wife and a father to really help my children.
I’m learning that I’m being used by God for his own ultimate plan. I may never really know what my purpose in Life is, but I know that God has had a plan JUST for me, since before I was born.
I know that everything I have in life is thanks to Jesus. I’m less worried about trying to constantly please people here on Earth - and more looking to make sure that I’m following what makes Jesus happier, especially for when I face judgement at the White Throne when He returns.
Until I’m called Home, there will still be trials and calamities that will strike my family, but I am learning to be more peaceful and leave things in God’s hands. To me, God doesn’t act as a wish granting genie or bulletproof shield to deflect everything away from me, but I know that He’s always working to give me exactly what I need.
One of my favourite passages from the Bible is from the Book of James
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” - James 4:13-15 (NKJV)
#baptism #holyspirit #jesuslovesyou