How did you find out about Christianity/who told you enough about it that you were interested?
In many parts of the world, identifying as a Christian is seen as a cultural label, a sociological category, or even a political affiliation. For some, it simply means being a decent human being—kind, moral, and considerate. I once heard an Italian couple say, with complete sincerity, that they were Christians because they were human beings. For them, Christianity had no necessary connection to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was simply synonymous with humanity itself.
But my journey into Christianity could not be more different. It was not cultural. It was not social. It was not philosophical. It was visceral, undeniable, and ultimately transformational. It began not with light, but with darkness.
A Family of Late Conversions
My grandparents were not lifelong Christians. In fact, my grandmother became a true follower of Christ at the age of 68. My grandfather followed at 70. My mother made her commitment to the Lord in her early fifties. My father, the most surprising of all, surrendered his life to Jesus when he was eighty-one years old.
My grandparents transformations were stunning. These were not small adjustments in lifestyle or religious rituals. They were profound changes in character, demeanor, and outlook. My once-stoic grandfather softened. My grandmother's complaints were replaced by praise. They became, quite literally, new creations.
This puzzled me. I had no emotional inclination toward religion. At that time, I was contemplating organized crime. I was calculating the most efficient way to execute three murders and orchestrate one particularly humiliating torture. I planned to leave one person permanently incapacitated—turn them into a vegetable—as a warning. I was consumed by rage, nihilism, and the absurdity of suffering in what appeared to be a godless world.
But then I paused.
A Challenge to God
In the silence of my inner being, I cried out—not in religious formality, but in desperation. I laid out my complaint before God, not with respect but with raw honesty.
I told Him that life made no sense. Being born only to die was futile. Being born to suffer was unjust. And as far as I could tell, love didn’t exist—only the idea of what it was supposed to be. I confessed to God that I had no love in me. I had no reason to care.
But if there were such a thing as eternity, if life went on beyond the grave, then my actions—my planned atrocities—would have consequences. If judgment were real, then I needed to know before it was too late. I needed an answer that wasn’t based on hearsay, tradition, or doctrine. I needed to encounter the Truth.
The Encounter That Changed Everything
I meant what I said. I genuinely sought to know if Jesus Christ was real. And then it happened.
Lord Jesus appeared to me. I’m not speaking metaphorically. I’m not speaking mystically. I’m speaking literally. His presence brought a joy so real it had a physical sensation. It rose from my belly button to the top of my sternum like an elongated balloon pumped with purpose. That sensation has never left me. At the time, it was as if life itself had been poured into my body and spirit.
I knew in that moment that eternity was not an abstract concept—it was a reality. I knew that sin was real, and I would have been held accountable had I gone through with my plans. I knew that Jesus is not a myth or a mere teacher. He is alive. He is the Son of God. And He came to save.
The world didn’t see this change. The "ignorati," as I call them, think I am a fool, a failure, or a fanatic. But they are wrong. I possess something they do not: eternal life and the joy that comes from knowing Lord Jesus Christ. My future is sure.
The Wisdom of the Bible
After my encounter with Lord Jesus, I returned to the Bible—not as a skeptical reader but as a thirsty man seeking water. I started with a paraphrased version and began reading the New Testament. And while the words were ancient, they were somehow speaking directly to me.
I was struck by the accuracy, the relevance, and the unshakable wisdom embedded in the pages. This wasn’t superstition. This was insight. Truth. Conviction. As Proverbs declares:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” — Proverbs 1:7
“The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.” — Proverbs 14:8
Suddenly, it made sense why so many scoff at Scripture. The Bible itself warns that fools will reject it. They’re not rejecting it because it’s incoherent—they reject it because it exposes their own condition.
Christianity Is More Than a Label
When people ask me how I became a Christian, I often start with the story of my grandparents. Their change got my attention. But it was not enough. Seeing their transformation was the catalyst, but it was my own spiritual bankruptcy—and ultimately, my encounter with the living Christ—that sealed the deal.
Being a Christian is not merely a cultural identity, a set of moral codes, or a church membership. It is a radical rebirth. A change in nature. A transfer from death to life, from darkness to light, from judgment to grace.
A Real State of Being
I am a Christian—not because of tradition, not because I was raised in a religious family, and not because I adopted a moral code. I am a Christian because Jesus Christ found me when I was at the brink of moral collapse. He appeared to me. He forgave me. He filled me with His joy. And He gave me the assurance of eternal life.
This is not just a belief. It’s a state of being. It’s the deepest reality I know. And it’s available to anyone who genuinely seeks the only Person who has risen from the dead, after paying the price for the sin of the world.
Conclusion:
In a world of shallow answers and superficial religion, there remains one question that towers above all others: Is Jesus Christ real? If He is, then nothing else matters more. And if He isn’t, then nothing else matters at all.
I found out the answer. And I can say, without hesitation, Lord Jesus Christ is alive! And He is waiting for you, just as He waited for me.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock, whoever opens to me, I will enter” — Revelation 3:20
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