Unveiled and free.

For the longest time, I lived a life secretly hoping that because I gave my life to Jesus at a very young age, God will to be okay with me not living a life in Christ.

Over time, I learned to say just enough to make myself feel comfortable when conversations about God arose. Yet, I gradually became utterly clueless about the Word of God. Looking back, I was also embarrassed that I couldn't speak with conviction about having a relationship with Him. I believed that because I had stood up in church during an altar call many years ago, I was born again, and my ticket to heaven was secured and that was the end of the road.

I was indeed saved that day, but subsequently I also turned away from God because I didn’t understand fully what giving my life to Christ meant. I believed a one-time sinner’s prayer was the ultimate goal as a Christian and that reading the bible, going to church and being a good person, would pave my way to heaven. But I never truly grew in Christ, as Paul said to the Corinthians – I was only able to receive milk, not solid food – and this spiritual immaturity lasted for a long time in my life.

Like most people, I was familiar with the popular Bible verses, but that’s all my relationship with God amounted to as I turned away from Him and embraced the deceptive lies of the world. I became a friend of the world.

Recently, a long-time friend from varsity remarked, “But you went to Kenya and did missionary work.” Yes, I did heed God’s call by going to Kenya, where we shared His Word with wonderful people and began building a church for the locals.

So, what happened? Why did I allow my relationship with God to wither away? How is it possible for a child of God who believes in Jesus to turn away from Him?

To answer these questions, I tried to recall the day I gave my life to Jesus. I remember feeling a deep emotion, a sincere, childlike conviction, and a measure of fear.

If you have ever read, or attempted to read, Revelation, you will know that it is an incredibly detailed book about things to come. It’s unlikely you could finish it without experiencing some emotion, shock, disbelief, and fear. God recently revealed to me that because fear was part of my motivation to give my life to Christ, I felt I had to work hard to keep God interested in me. I thought I had to do good things and be perfect if I wanted His continued acceptance.

As a child, I equated disappointing people with disappointing God. You might recall times when you were naughty or failed to meet people’s expectations, leading to reprimands, punishments, or being sent to your room. Reflecting on this, I genuinely believed that I had to be perfect for God to keep loving me. Sometimes parents, in their desperation when children don’t listen to them, would say: “the devil is sitting on your shoulder” – and this brought even more fear into my child-heart.

I now know that I didn’t understand the significance of God sacrificing His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him would be saved. I didn’t grasp what it truly meant to repent. I didn’t comprehend the impact of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden on every single human being. I didn’t realise that I didn’t have to perform impossible favours to stay in God’s good books.

I fell prey to religiousness. I had no grasp of the meaning of 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

When we truly turn to God and accept Jesus, and the Spirit dwells within us, the veil is lifted from our hearts, and we are transformed. That blindness to the truth is taken away and God’s glory is revealed.

Although I gave my heart to Jesus, I attempted on my own to achieve what is promised to us when we are born again. I tried my best to be a good person, but, as one might expect, being human, I failed miserably to meet the standard I believed was necessary to earn and keep God's acceptance. I didn’t truly understand the Word of God. Even though I gave my life to Jesus, I wasn’t truly free.

My blindness was not caused by Jesus; in fact, He is the one who removes this blindness. He is the one who transforms us completely when we accept Him as our Saviour.

Jesus promises us that when we are in Him, He will make us new, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This verse says that when we are in Christ, ALL things become new. Please read this verse again, and slowly – let the Spirit of God help you understand the depth of these words. We become a “new creation” - the old behaviours, words, habits, coping mechanisms, beliefs, lies, and ways are all made new. You will be fundamentally transformed. You will no longer desire to shout at people in traffic, to swear, to have outbursts of anger, to lie or manipulate, to engage in immoral relationships, or to rely on drugs to numb your pain, God will remove your fear – 1 Timothy 2:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” When you are in Christ, You WILL be changed.

I don’t know about you, but reading 2 Corinthians 5:17 and experiencing its truth in my own life has been the greatest gift! Becoming a new creation - where the old has passed away and all things have become new - is something no one else in the universe can or wants to do for you. Only the living God makes us completely new. And this transformation doesn’t end here - Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This excites me beyond words!

When people say to me, “I don’t know you anymore,” or “this is a lot to take in,” upon witnessing and listening to testimonies of God’s merciful hand in my life, I rejoice and praise God for the gift of Christ, through whom I am free and made new.

You may feel that you are not completely free and that you are still holding on to old ways, beliefs and habits. You may not experience yourself to be the “new creation” yet. You might be reading the Bible, praying, attending church, joining a Bible study group, participating in youth activities, and giving to the poor, but still not feel free. If any of this resonates with you, ask God to search your heart and reveal to you where you are not free. God says that where His Spirit is, there is liberty – ask Him to help you to receive true freedom in Jesus.

I pray that you will experience God’s grace and everlasting love as He guides you through His Word, speak to you personally and as you become a new creation in Christ.

🎶 Reigning – Jeremy Riddle -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orUSxB8gCbU