Once you have read my books, I wouldn’t be surprised if you thought I was an atheist or someone who is really angry with God. You would probably be surprised to find that far from that, I am actually a Christian. “Christian?” I hear you ask, “Why would a Christian write like that about God?” To put it very simply, that’s how I used to feel about God, before I became a Christian. I wasn’t from a Christian household and had no Christian family growing up.
So how did I become a Christian if my parents are not? Well it might sound strange to say, but I’ve always believed in God from a very young age. Why? I’m not sure, it just seemed to me that the world was so beautiful and people so complex that I never really questioned the idea of a creator. However, there is a big difference between believing in God and actually being a Christian. Believing in God is great and is the first step, but being a true born again Christian (which is what I am) is about more than believing and following a set of rules.
“Being a Christian does not mean becoming perfect, it means accepting that there is only person who makes all perfect.”
RE Harper
Being a born again Christian is about having revelation about who Jesus is and what he did on that cross to save you and many others from their sins. Everyone is a sinner, no one is exempt and I don’t say that to make you feel bad, because I am a sinner myself; it’s just a fact that all humans have unhealthy thoughts, urges and intentions becuase our heart has the capicity for evil, as well as good.
The good news is even though I am a sinner; I am saved! Not because of anything I did, but because of what Jesus did and I don’t have to do a single thing to repay the favour. He did it not in return for anything, but in the hope that I might choose to walk everyday with him to get closer to the father and to do his work on earth. That doesn’t mean I can carry on sinning, even though I sometimes do by accident, but it means that I can have a relationship with God and Jesus to help me on the path away from evil.
“I’d always believe in God, but I was more of a fan of his, which means I basically only wanted to know him when he was letting things go my way.”
RE Harper
When I was a child I was a believer of God and a fan, but I wasn’t a born again Christain. What this means is that I only really wanted to know God and pray to him when things weren’t going right for me. I have a distinct image of being a child with the worst tummy ache and praying to God that he would make me better. Instantly my tummy ache vanished and though I was grateful and believe in him even more, I still hadn’t made a concious decision to give my life to him.
That happened in March of 2011. I left the job I had been at for 4 years because I felt like my employers didn’t appreciate my contributions and went to work for a new company. It was all new and exciting, until I realised that the company cared more about paperwork than actually doing the job we were meant to be doing. Anyway after 2 weeks, the new company and I agreed that it just wasn’t working out and even though the decision was mutual, I left feeling devestated and lost.
“For me on a personal level, the first part of 2011, reminds me of a quote by Charles Dickens in his novel of A Tale of Two Cities~ ‘It was the best of times it was the worst of times.'”
RE Harper
Then when I came home, on the same day my mum gave me some horrible news about a family member (I don’t want to go into detail as it’s not my personal information to share.) and to put it frankly, it devestated me even more. With no job, no prospects and feeling pretty worthless, I started to drink alcohol to numb the pain. Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t become an alcholic because I was only drinking alcopops, but the point was I was drinking every night and for the wrong reasons.
One night, I was about to drink my second bottle of WKD (at 4% alcohol- yes I know; I was hard core), when I felt God speak to me loud and clear. Don’t misunderstand me, I didn’t physically hear God’s voice in my ears, but it was a strong voice in my head that was not my own, but one which I recognised instantly. “You’ve always believed in me Rachael; that’s not working for you. Why don’t you see what I can do?” Word for word that it was God said to me because you don’t forget something like that.
“There was no overnight transformation, but there was a new hope that things would be better.”
RE Harper
I gave my heart to Jesus that night, but it wasn’t an overnight transformation. I woke up feeling the same as I had the night before, only there was sense of hope that I didn’t have before. Despite knowing I had made a concious choice to follow Jesus; I was stubborn and refused to go to church for ages. God kept gently reminding me and though he was nice about it, I knew I was going to have to go at some point. The thing that was putting me off is I knew that once I went to church, that was it and there was no going back, but as always God got his way in the end.
If you’re intrigued about what you’ve read and want to know how you can start the journey and make your own commitment then click the link below.
I want to become a Christian
