Part 1: My Personal Testimony
Hi I'm Crystal. I am a nominal Adventist but I'm not a Christian. Wait that is what I was. Let me now rephrase that, As of sometime in late 2018 I became a Seventh-Day Adventist and a Born Again Christian.
This seems kind of strange I know. I grew up adventist or at least from the age of four my family attended a Seventh-Day Adventist church. I attended the adventist school both grade school and high school. I was baptized at age 11, in pathfinders since the age of 9 and a Master Guide since the age of 16. I've led a few bible studies through my church in college. I've held positions in the churches that I have attended, and I have achieved the epitomy of a layman adventist, yes, I am a missionary in a foreign Land. Wow! look at me I should be voted into the Adventist Christian Hall of fame.
I should have been a christian from the begining or at least from Age 11. But I would have to say I was not. I was very ignorant of what it even ment to be a Christian let alone an Adventist. I mean sure I wanted to be like Christ and since perfection is unattainable I was doing the best I could do and sure I believed that Christ was coming back soon. However, I never knew the truth and I still went on living in the world and looking like the world. Isn't that what it is all about? Well I did my best, I had my daily devotions sporatically, I prayed when I remembered or when I was in need or felt like it. Never really understanding the purpose of prayer except to ask for help to be perfect... and I mean really perfect... like I never should do anything wrong ever again kind of perfect while at the same time knowing I was failing and going to hell... ie die forever cause you know that is what we adventists believe. I was just like any other person in the world, chasing love and acceptance from other people and when I stumbled and sinned, I wanted forgiveness but never really believed I was forgiven, I wanted to be loved by God but never really understood the true meaning of love. I was so uneducated and lost. I was a nominal Adventist to the core. I filled my place in the pew, I gave my tithe faithfully, I never was late to church (if I could help it) and was involved as much as possible. But still I lacked everything God promised when a person committed their life to Him. I lacked love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness, and self-control. WAIT! WHAT! Did I just say that? Did I really have no real fruit of the Holy Spirit??!! So that means I wasn't Christ like and I was nothing that I claimed to be. This was a sad realization for me and I didn't understand why I was this way. I was in darkness. And I don't just mean at night. I wasn't living in the light of Christ and thus I was living in spiritual darkness.
Is this story resonating with you? Do you feel like you are reading your story? If not good. But for those who resonate with this message and even those who don't, I want to say there is a God who hasn't given up on me and because he hasn't given up on me, he hasn't given up on you. How can I say this? Because of where I am today. I am no longer a nominal Adventist, I am NOW a born Again, by Christ's blood, Christian .
I will share the rest of this story in my next blog.
For now may your heart and mind be blessed by the Holy Spirit.
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