Awakening to True Faith

Once there lived a man named Thomas who had been attending church since he was a child. He faithfully followed all the church's teachings, participated in every service, and served in various ministries. Thomas believed that his commitment to the church and his good deeds were enough to secure his salvation.

As the years passed, Thomas grew older, and with age came a deeper contemplation of life's purpose and his relationship with God. One evening, as he sat alone in his study surrounded by shelves of religious books and memorabilia from his years of church involvement, a sense of unease crept over him. Despite his outward devotion, Thomas felt a lingering emptiness in his heart, something was lacking, what was missing? This was the question he had pushed aside for far too long.

One night, in the quiet solitude of his room, Thomas found himself praying a different kind of prayer. Instead of the usual recitations and petitions, he poured out his heart in raw honesty, confessing his doubts and uncertainties about his faith. He asked God to reveal the truth to him, to show him if he truly knew the Savior he had heard about all his life.

In the days that followed, Thomas's prayer hung heavy on his mind. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing, that his religious practices were just that—practices, but not a genuine connection with God. He began to search the Scriptures with a newfound hunger, seeking answers to the questions that had plagued his soul.

One Sunday morning, as Thomas sat in the familiar pews of his church, the pastor delivered a sermon on true repentance and the necessity know Jesus Christ in a personal way. The words struck a chord deep within Thomas's heart, resonating with the prayers he had been whispering in the quiet of his room.

That day, Thomas made a decision that would change his life forever. After the service, he approached the pastor and poured out his heart, confessing his need for real salvation, not just religious routines. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Thomas surrendered his life completely to Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as his Lord and Savior in a way he had never done before.

From that moment on, Thomas's faith took on a whole new meaning. It wasn't about outward appearances or religious obligations; it was about a genuine, personal relationship with the living God. As he dug deeper into God's Word and spent time in prayer, Thomas experienced a peace and joy he had never known—a peace that surpassed all understanding, and a joy that filled the emptiness in his soul.

Thomas's story serves as a stark reminder that attending church and performing religious duties, while important, cannot replace the need for true repentance and a heartfelt relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not about what we do for God, but about allowing God to work in us and through us, transforming our hearts and lives from the inside out.

Fifty years ago, I committed my life to serving the Lord. I hold an associate degree in Christian Education and a bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling.  I live by 1 Corinthians 9:16, Ephesians 3:7-8, and Colossians 1:28-29. In my retirement, I focus on studying and teaching God’s Word. Besides writing this Blog I maintain 3 Facebook pages dedicated to spreading the Word of God. Email: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com