Jason Turnbow

I grew up in church and even was baptized at an early age, but I wasn't a believer. I soon began living a life that assumed there was no God or moral consequences in life. It was convenient for a while as I was then "free" to do all the things that those poor hypocrites at church denied themselves because of their so called "faith."

My lifestyle slowly caught up with me while causing lots of pain to friends and family along the way. In my junior year of college, I found myself dealing with some heavy consequences of that lifestyle, and unfortunately those that I loved most also had to bear those consequences.

That's when Jesus Christ did what no one else would want to do. At my lowest and most undeserving point, He blessed me with forgiveness and love. He used special people to show himself to me, and they reached out to me and loved me and my family without judgment or regard for my past. He knew I would never allow Him in my life until I was humbled. Finally, the fact that Christ loved me, forgave me, and died for me after all I had done was more than I could take. My "old self" died, and I began a new life that truly was free. Tears of joy and gratefulness followed.

What about all the sin I committed before and that I've committed since? "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Now I live not to earn His love but strive to live according to His will because He already loves me (as demonstrated on the cross). As I follow Him, I grow to know him more … and love him more.