Come Home – Jesus is calling.
Maybe you’ve been feeling it lately– that tug in your heart.
You can’t quite explain it, but you know God is calling you deeper.
Or maybe you’ve been away from Him for a long time, and something in you is saying, “It’s time to come home.”
I know that feeling. I’ve been there. And I want to tell you my story.
I Thought I Knew Him
I grew up in a Christian home. My parents had both walked away from destructive paths and found hope in Jesus.Before I was born, my dad had been an alcoholic and a violent man, but when he met Christ, he never drank again and became known for his kindness. My mom broke free from a similar cycle and chose a new life.
From the time I was in utero, I was in church. I loved church. Sweet and kind people. Warm and inviting organ music. Cookies with the cream in the middle and kool aid. Wooden toys and Jesus coloring pages. Songs and sermons that sweetly comforted me and snuck into my heart. We called all of the older people “Grandpa” and “Grandma” as though they were our own family.
I remember being very young, and lying to my mother. I think it may be the first time she recognized that her sweet little boy could sin. She told me how to pray to invite Jesus into my heart. I would like to think that I was sincere, but I’d find a deeper truth later.
I was baptized as a child shortly after that. I believed in God, I loved Jesus, but looking back, I realize I mostly went through the motions because I wanted to make my parents proud. It was meaningful in its own way, but my heart was still empty. I knew about Jesus — but I didn’t know Him.
The Breaking Point
By the time I was in eighth grade, the loneliness and brokenness had piled up. I was bullied. I felt unwanted. I was angry at myself, at others, and at the world. I carried dark thoughts — thoughts I acted on in ways I’m not proud of, and thoughts I almost acted on in ways I might not have survived.
I decided I was going to end my life. I had every intention of cutting my wrists. But in the middle of those thoughts, a fear gripped me:
What if I don’t really know Him? If I die, will I be in hell? Will I be separated from Him forever?
I knew God was real. But I realized maybe I wasn’t in Christ.
The Night Everything Changed
That night – and in the days that followed – I wrestled with God.
I came to a point where I got down on my knees, literally, and told Him I was done running.
I asked Him to forgive me. I told Him I accepted what Jesus had done for me when He died on the cross – that His death paid the price for my sin. I chose to follow Him, to serve Him as my Good King.
And something happened. I can’t explain it any other way – but it was like I stepped out of the darkness into the light.
Peace settled in. Joy I had never known before came alive in me. It didn’t mean I never struggled again, but it meant I never struggled alone.
I told the Pastor at our little country church I wanted to be baptized. He smiled. He had dunked me several years before. But he knew that there had been a change in me. The first time, it was just a bath. This time, it was a commitment – a public declaration of what God had done for me.
Why I’m Telling You This
Here’s the thing: this isn’t about religion. It’s not about rules. It’s about a relationship with the One who made you, who loves you, and who gave His life for you.
Jesus isn’t just an inspiring teacher. He is God in the flesh. He died to pay for your sin, and He rose again so you could have real life – both now and forever.
And He’s calling you. Whether you’ve never known Him, or you’ve been away for years, He’s saying, Come home.
This Is Your Moment
You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to clean yourself up first.
All you have to do is turn to Him. Tell Him you believe. Ask Him to forgive you. Trust Him to lead you. He will meet you right where you are.
And if you’re ready to take the next step – maybe your first step – I’d love to invite you to join us for our Open Arms Baptism & Picnic on Sunday, Aug 31 at Marilla Landing Pavilion.
You can make your public commitment to follow Jesus, or you can come and see what God is doing.
Details & Sign-Up: https://bit.ly/3UUtf9k
