Sadly, since we all have sin and we fall short of God's glory we have separated ourselves from God. (Romans 3:23)
When I was growing up as part of a "Christian" family I thought I knew all about Jesus. I knew he walked on water, he fed 5000 people, I even knew he died on a cross and rose from the dead to pay for our sins. If you asked me if I believe in Jesus I would say "Yes!" The truth is that I merely knew about him. I didn't have a real relationship with Jesus as my Lord.
He calls us to do a lot more than say a prayer or make a confession. In Luke Jesus says that if we want to be his disciple we must take up our cross and follow him (Luke 9:23). We have to be willing to live for him and willing to die for him. That's not a popular altar call.
When I was twelve years old I had been hearing the Gospel, that Jesus came and lived a sinless life and died on a Roman Cross and Rose again to pay for our sins and that to be saved into a right relationship with God I had to give him my life and believe in him with everything that I am. So as my Mom was stopping the car fast I remember thinking to myself, "if I die I don't think I will go to Heaven. I don't really know Jesus I just know about him." So then and there I gave him my whole life. I put all my trust in him for salvation.
From that point he started to change me. It was slow at first, but as I began to seek him in prayer and in studying the Bible he continued working out my salvation more evidently. With the help of other believers I grew stronger in my faith and Jesus continues to grow me closer to him and teaches me how to fight temptation and hate sin.
